GaDOE partners with Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute to bring civic engagement competition opportunity to Georgia students

The Georgia Department of Education is partnering with the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) to bring the eighteenth invitational of the 2026 Ronald Reagan Debate Series – one of the nation’s premier civic engagement competitions – to high school students across the state of Georgia.

Open to students in grades 9-12, the Spring 2026 Georgia Invitational will blend traditional debate with conversational engagement, encouraging student participants to think critically, speak persuasively, and engage respectfully. The Georgia champion will qualify for the National Championship in July, receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for themselves and a chaperone, along with the chance to win a share of $50,000 in scholarship money.

“As a former social studies teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when students are given the opportunity to think through complex issues and discuss them respectfully with others,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “The Georgia Invitational will give students a chance to practice those skills in a real-world setting – researching an issue, forming their own perspective, and engaging in thoughtful dialogue with their peers. These are all essential habits for informed citizenship.”

Unlike many conventional debate formats, the Ronald Reagan Debate Series does not require prior debate experience. The Debate Series features cross-fire exchanges between debaters and direct questioning from moderators, modeling the style of historic presidential debates. Students are encouraged to prioritize substance over jargon, personality over performance, and storytelling as a powerful tool for persuasion.

“Our goal is to cultivate leaders who can listen thoughtfully, respond substantively, and communicate with authenticity,” RRPFI Chief Education Programming Officer Dr. Richard Schroeder said. “This partnership with Georgia represents a meaningful commitment to raising the next generation who can bridge differences and lead with principle.”

This year’s competition will focus on the resolution: “RESOLVED: As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary of self-governance, the Electoral College should be replaced by the popular vote in presidential elections.” Participating students will research, select a stance, and debate their viewpoint on the topic.

Participants will have access to free training resources designed specifically for the Ronald Reagan Debate format. These materials are available at www.reaganfoundation.org/debate.