Brewer Foundation Announces “Elite 8” Teams in the 2025-26 International Public Policy Forum

New York, March 18, 2026 — The Brewer Foundation is pleased to announce the “Elite 8” teams in the 25^th anniversary International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). The advancing teams earn an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to compete in the IPPF Finals, where the IPPF World Champions will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize and the coveted Brewer Cup.  

Founded in 2001, the IPPF is jointly administered by the Brewer Foundation and New York University and is the world’s only international debate competition that challenges high school students to engage in oral and written debate on matters of public policy. 

The annual IPPF began in October where a record-breaking 332 teams from 39 countries submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the following: Resolved: The Group of 20 Nations should levy a global education tax equal to 1% of each member country's gross domestic product to establish a dedicated international organization that supports the provision of universal, free, quality primary and secondary education. 

From there, the “Top 64” competed in a series of single elimination debates, narrowing the field to 32, then 16, and now 8. The “Sweet 16” round began in February, during which the teams exchanged written arguments. A panel of judges evaluated each debate to determine this year’s “Elite 8” teams who hail from schools in three countries and eight U.S. states.  

“This year’s ‘Elite 8’ teams demonstrate not only intellectual rigor, but a deep passion and commitment to solving one of the world's most urgent challenges, the global education crisis,” said William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation and Founder of the IPPF. “I look forward to welcoming these exceptional young scholars to New York City, where their written arguments will come to life in oral debates.” 

Results of the “Sweet 16”: 

• BASIS International School Shenzhen from Shenzhen, China advances over Kealakehe Public High School from Kailua Kona, Hawaii 

• Ivy Bridge Academy (Team 1) from Johns Creek, Georgia advances over Jasper High School from Plano, Texas 

• North Allegheny Senior High School from Wexford, Pennsylvania advances over Pomperaug Regional High School from Southbury, Connecticut 

• Çevre High School from Istanbul, Turkey advances over Hamilton High School from Chandler, Arizona 

• Delbarton School from Morristown, New Jersey advances over Ivy Bridge Academy (Team 2) from Johns Creek, Georgia 

• Millburn High School from Millburn, New Jersey advances over Notre Dame San Jose from San Jose, California 

• Troy High School from Troy, Michigan advances over Saint Paul Preparatory from Seoul, Republic of Korea 

• Westwood High School from Austin, Texas advances over Marymount Academy International from Montreal, Canada 

The IPPF Finals weekend kicks off on Friday, April 17, 2026, from 4 - 6p.m. at the NYU King Juan Carlos I of Spain Center (KJCC) for an educational symposium, Educating the World: Obligation, Opportunity, or Overreach, where leading topic experts and academics will engage the same topic debated by the students. On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the final debates will be held at the NYU School of Law from 8a.m. – 6:30 p.m. The semifinal and final debates will be livestreamed for those who cannot join in person.  

For more information visit www.ippfdebate.com. 

For tickets to the Symposium or the IPPF Finals, visit here.