Opportunity · Ongoing
Chapter charters open for the 2026–27 academic year
Student leaders across the country can now apply to charter an IES chapter at their high school, with curriculum and support provided by the national team.
Charter applications for the 2026–27 academic year are open to students in grades nine through twelve at any secondary school in the United States. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the national chapter office.
A chapter requires three things: a founding student leader, a faculty advisor of record, and a commitment to meet on a fixed schedule through the full academic year. Everything else — the case library, the facilitation guides, the annual program calendar, the written-work standards — is provided by the national team.
Founding leaders receive direct support from their regional director, access to facilitation training ahead of the first meeting, and an invitation to the regional convening for their area. Chapters are not left to invent a method; they are asked to run one well.
“You do not need a faculty sponsor with a philosophy degree. You need eight students willing to be wrong in front of each other.”
The application asks for a short statement of intent, a proposed meeting cadence, and the name of a faculty advisor. The national office responds to complete applications within two weeks and schedules an onboarding call with the regional director before the first meeting is held.
Chapters chartered during the 2026–27 cycle will be recognized as founding chapters of the American branch — a designation that carries no privileges and considerable expectation.
Bring IES to your school
Charters for the current academic year are open to student leaders in grades 9–12.
Start a chapter
