Why It Matters

NAUDL understands that results matter and we have positioned ourselves at the forefront of urban debate research. These reports show the important connection of urban debate participation to significant outcomes in critical skills and thinking, communication and collaboration, as well as school-readiness and academic success. Recent and compelling studies are highlighted below.

Research shows that: 

• For each semester that a student debates, their individual grades improve.
• Urban debaters are more likely to test as college-ready in English, Reading, Math, and Science.
• Among high-risk students, as compared to their peers: 
  • Urban debaters have both a higher high school graduation rate.
  • Urban debaters have a higher rate of college enrollment.
  • Urban debaters are more likely to attend a four-year college. 

Spring 2019
This study adds to the limited literature based on extracurricular debate, examining a 10-year longitudinal sample of Baltimore City Public School System students.

Summer 2015
Positive Youth Development and Participation in an Urban Debate League: Results from Chicago Public Schools, 1997-2007 Susannah Anderson Policy & Research Group of New Orleans Briana Mezuk Virginia Commonwealth University Research suggests that participation in co-curricular and extracurricular activities improves students’ academic outcomes.

2014-2015
The evaluation found that UDL has the potential to be a positive addition to MPS schools out-of-school time offerings.

1997-2007
This study investigates the relationship between participating in a high school debate program on college-readiness in the Chicago Public School district over a 10-year period.

September 2011
This study investigates the relationship between participating in a high school debate program on college-readiness in the Chicago Public School district over a 10-year period.