Nexus Louisiana Launches Education Challenge in Partnership with New Schools for Louisiana

Nexus Louisiana today announced the launch of its fourth DevDays competition, the EdTech Challenge: Building Decision-Ready Tools, in partnership with New Schools for Louisiana. The challenge invites computer science and engineering students across the state to build digital solutions that help education leaders make more informed decisions about where and how to invest in Louisiana’s K-12 system.

Across Louisiana, education data is abundant, but it is often fragmented across systems and difficult to translate into clear, actionable insights. At the same time, the need for strategic decision-making has never been greater. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, fewer than half of Louisiana students are performing at grade level in core subjects, underscoring the urgency of better aligning resources, expanding access to quality schools, and improving student outcomes statewide.

The EdTech Challenge calls on students to build tools, such as dashboards, applications, or data models, that surface where need, demand, and opportunity intersect, and translate those insights into decision-ready guidance for stakeholders.

“This challenge is about more than building technology; it’s about building clarity,” said Tony Zanders, President and CEO of Nexus Louisiana. “When decision-makers can clearly see where the gaps are and where opportunities exist, they can act with confidence. At the same time, we’re creating a pathway for Louisiana’s students to gain real-world experience by solving meaningful problems that directly impact their communities.”

Applications for the EdTech Challenge are open now, with a deadline of Sunday, May 17, at 11:59 p.m. Students will work in teams over a 10-week period to develop and refine their solutions, culminating in a live demonstration before a panel of industry and education leaders.

“I’m thankful to Nexus for this opportunity to collaborate and see what comes from the talented minds we have in Louisiana. The problem they’re being asked to solve is critical to future investments in Louisiana education and will deeply impact students’ access to high-quality, relevant, and innovative school models,” said Kara Maggiore, Chief Executive Officer of New Schools for Louisiana. Their potential solutions offer an opportunity to foster strategic collaboration among education stakeholders and increase the effectiveness of education strategy and investment.”

Since launching DevDays, Nexus Louisiana has engaged more than 200 students from universities across the state, providing hands-on experience in designing and building technology solutions that address critical industry needs. The program has become a key driver in strengthening Louisiana’s emerging tech talent pipeline, connecting students directly with industry partners and real-world applications.

By partnering with New Schools for Louisiana, the EdTech Challenge brings together expertise in education, innovation, and workforce development to address one of the state’s most pressing challenges, ensuring that every student has access to opportunity and that decision-makers have the tools they need to make it happen.

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