Mission and Principles
Mission
To facilitate participation in organized debate activities for as many urban students as possible
Scope
The NAUDL serves urban public school systems within the United States.
Urban Debate Leagues currently operate in school systems with approximately
87% people of color and 78% low-income student populations. Eligibility
will be recognized primarily by those who define their province as
urban, as long as their student demographic includes no less than
40% of Title I (i.e., economically disadvantaged) students.
Strategic Goals
Primary Goal: to increase the number of active debaters.
Secondary Goal: to maintain and improve the educational
quality of the debating experience.
Secondary Goal: to promote the sustainability of
local Urban Debate Leagues.
The NAUDL’s approaches to achieve these Goals are:
- Building Urban Debate Leagues (UDLs) in new cities
- Strengthening UDLs that are struggling
- Expanding the scope and quality of debate coaching and instruction, including efforts to increase the membership of existing UDLs to include new schools, provide training and materials that enhance the quality of coaching and instruction, expand new areas (such as middle schools), increase debate participation at each school, and broaden access to argumentation and debate
- Connecting existing UDLs through networking events and services
