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Chicago Debates envisions a world in which Chicago youth are empowered to find their voice, succeed in college and career, and become leaders in their community through the transformative power of academic debate. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the organization was established by a group of business and civic leaders who were passionate about finding a way to bring the benefits of debate into Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Since its inception, Chicago Debates’ CPS partnership has grown to, at its height, more than 90 middle and high schools throughout the city. Chicago Debates has become one of the most competitive policy urban debate leagues in the country, and a national model for other urban debate leagues and educational organizations benefiting and supporting young people.
Chicago Debates students compete in five to six tournaments a year around a nationally selected topic. Tournament participation requires students to conduct research, use evidence, think critically, and synthesize complex ideas to make their arguments. During a normal school year, debate tournaments are held in person, although currently they are being conducted virtually due to the pandemic.
As the largest of the 22 urban policy debate leagues in the country, Chicago Debates engaged nearly 1,100 CPS students in the 2022-2023 Stacy did you mean 2021-2022? school year across 75 schools, a slight pandemic-related decrease from years past. Students who participate in debate are 300% more likely than their peers to graduate high school and 80% more likely to graduate college. The organization’s current strategic plan calls for significant increase in student and school participation in its programs by 2027.
Beyond academic development, debate provides practical preparation for college and career success by building students’ critical thinking, research, and communications skills. At the same time, debate uniquely fosters the values of creativity, hard work, teamwork, and compassion, as students learn to understand both sides of—and prepare cogent arguments about—the major social issues of the day. Finally, debate inspires students to become leaders. It prepares them with the ability to analyze issues through multiple points of view; a dedication to fact-based decision-making; and the confidence to make their voices heard.
