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 4-5 years.
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Tier 1: Introductory Course
Want to build a brand new team? Don’t have a teacher on staff yet to be the coach?
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Tier 2: Partnership
This tier is for teams who have completed our introductory course OR have an existing team.
Programming includes a year-long partnership where we bring in BDL staff members to run weekly practices.
This tier also includes highly or fully subsidized opportunities for students to compete at online, local, state and national tournaments, as well as full scholarships to our summer camp.
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Tier 3: Mentorship
This tier is for schools that have an established team and school-based coach.
This tier offers a year-long mentorship where we collaborate with coaches re: curriculum development, practice observations, team organization, budgeting, and any other challenges that come up.
This tier also includes highly or fully subsidized opportunities for students to compete at online, local, state and national tournaments, as well as full scholarships to our summer camp.
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
