Debate as Transformative Pedagogy

Provides in-school and after-school speech and debate instruction for students in grades 4–12 through partner schools and Regional Debate Centers. Programs include public speaking, public forum debate, Lincoln-Douglas debate, and competitive speech events, serving over 1,500 students annually across New York, New Jersey, and surrounding regions.

Offers live virtual debate classes via Zoom for students in grades 4–12 during after-school and weekend hours, providing accessible instruction for students regardless of geographic location.

Organizes and manages local, regional, and national debate tournaments including bi-monthly or quarterly school-year competitions, virtual seasonal tournaments, and championship events such as the American Debate League Championship and participation in the Harvard National Speech & Debate Tournament. These events provide students opportunities to demonstrate and develop debating skills, with one virtual tournament drawing over 100 participants from New York and New Jersey.

Organizes and hosts annual summer camps for children in grades 4–12, offering live virtual instruction in public speaking and debate through structured curricula across introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels. The program includes full scholarships for children in need and operated 12 weekly virtual sessions in 2026.

Manages a certification program to train and credential volunteer judges for debate events, ensuring qualified adjudication at tournaments.

Develops and distributes structured debate curricula, lesson plans, instructional guides, and debate evidence to member schools and educators. Resources support public speaking and debate instruction across grade levels and include materials on argument construction and diverse debate topics.

Provides certified debate instructors to teach classes, conduct online classroom visits, and support school-based debate teams and coaches in delivering effective instruction.

Conducts professional development sessions and bi-weekly conference calls to train school staff and volunteer judges in speech and debate pedagogy, enabling partner schools to sustain debate programs. The organization trains 3–6 school staff members annually to become certified debate coaches.

Partners with organizations such as Bella Abzug Leadership to co-host leadership tournaments that integrate debate and civic engagement, providing students with opportunities to demonstrate leadership and argumentation skills in collaborative settings.

Runs regular debate practice sessions in neighborhoods across New York City, including the Adolescent Literacy Program in Queens and Brooklyn, and Dream Team debate practices, to support student skill development outside of school hours.

Provides summer leader training and BALI Leader Training programs to develop leadership skills among debate participants, preparing them to take on roles as peer leaders and mentors within the debate community.

Organizes the NYCUDL Champions of Debate Gala each year to celebrate student achievements, recognize contributions to the debate community, and promote public engagement with youth debate initiatives.

Organizes and hosts competitive debate tournaments for middle and high school students as part of its Summer Debate Institute and ongoing programs, including dedicated events for each level to apply learned debate skills in formal settings.

Delivers an evidence-based argumentation curriculum to improve literacy, writing, public speaking, and critical thinking skills in over 100 New York City middle schools, with expansion to more than 250 Title I schools; serves approximately 4,000 students citywide. Provides on-site teacher training, debate resources, workshops, and monthly debate opportunities.

Runs a free summer day camp for K–12 students, including separate debate institutes for middle and high school levels, featuring debate workshops, classes, electives, and labs. The program includes breakfast and lunch for all participants and focuses on public speaking development for younger students and parliamentary debate skills for older students.

Plans and conducts field trips, such as visits to Ellis Island, for middle and high school debate students to support topic exploration and deepen understanding of historical and civic themes relevant to debate topics.

Provides support for over 200 students participating in speech, debate, and model congress competitions at local and national levels.

Partners with NYC schools to establish and grow competitive speech and debate programs using a three-stage, gradual release model designed to enable schools to run independent teams within 3–5 years. Includes on-site introductory courses and ongoing mentorship for school-based coaches.