What Is an Urban Debate League?
Public-Private Partnership
An Urban Debate League organizes academic debate programming for public
schools in a large city. Though successful variations can and do exist,
an Urban Debate League (UDL) is generally structured around a partnership
between the urban public school district and a private partner, a
local not-for-profit organization often called a UDL Advisory Board,
which comprises civic-minded leaders in business, law, academia, government,
and the nonprofit community.
Roster of Active Schools
Urban Debate Leagues have at a minimum five active high schools, each with
at least one paid coach, who is usually a teacher at that school (often
with no prior debate experience). Leagues usually have between 10 and 30 students
who compete at debate tournaments.
Training
Urban Debate Leagues conduct expert trainings for teachers, judges,
and students, over the summer and during the school year.
Tournaments
The heart of an Urban Debate League is its tournament schedule, which
drives other activities on the yearly UDL Season Calendar.
Professional Community of Coaches
In the NAUDL's "best practices" approach, the debate educators in
the Urban Debate League (i.e., the coaches) have as much authority
over the League's programming (e.g., its schedule, policies, norms)
as is possible within parameters set by the school district, and guidance
offered by the Advisory Board.
College Access
Universities provide technical assistance, mentoring, and event facilities.
Urban Debate Leagues help transition students into college.
Curricular Debate
Urban Debate Leagues typically offer a course in the regular curriculum
in Argumentation and Debate. Some UDLs have worked with their school
system to offer debate as a teaching methodology in other subject
areas, such English, Social Science, History, and Biology. This is
an application of debate principles known as Curricular Debate.
Public Debate and Youth Voice
Many Urban Debate Leagues conduct debates to affect public conversations
on community concerns.
