School-Based Programming
Brooklyn Debate League is currently accepting applications for NYC high schools interested in building competitive Speech & Debate teams.
Our school-based programming follows a three-stage, gradual release model that is intended to develop the capacity of the school to run its own competitive team within 3-5 years.
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Tier 1: Spring Intensive
Want to build a brand new team at your school? Don’t have a teacher on staff yet to be the coach? No problem!
At this tier, BDL staff members run a 6-week intro course on-site from late April to early June.
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Tier 2: Partnership
This tier offers hybrid and in-person opportunities to partner with BDL from October through April.
Programming includes weekly practices and online tournaments, and access to in-person local and national circuit competitions.
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Tier 3: Mentorship
In this stage, BDL staff collaborate every month with school-based coaches on strategy, lesson plans, tournament logistics, and other challenges.
This stage also includes opportunities to compete online and in-person on the local, state and national level.
Testimonials from Partner Schools
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"BDL has been instrumental is helping to revive our school culture in the post-Covid era. It has helped students build resilience and social skills that were sorely diminished during online instruction as well as reinforced college readiness skills that are necessary for their future success. Moreover, it has introduced them to diverse cultural and social settings that greatly enhances their ability to navigate college and the workplace."
Suzannah, Debate Coach at Unity Prep Charter High School
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"Our debate kiddos have learned and grown so much this year! Two of the six have been accepted and earned a scholarship for an academic summer camp this summer!"
LaShaunda, Director of the Beyond Care afterschool network
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"Sincerity, depth and professionalism of BDL staff had a highly positive impact on a pilot program we instituted at Chapin. Building an effective and challenging program like this takes a lot of time. That kind of commitment is hard to find. We were fortunate to get their help."
Jim, Middle School Debate Director at The Chapin School
