Mission: The mission of the Houston Urban Debate League is to build, support, and sustain programs in Houston’s public schools to make policy debate an educational resource available to all students. Policy debate prepares students to be effective advocates for themselves, their families, and their community. The Houston Urban Debate League builds public-private partnerships that enhance the investment of school districts in debate activities by providing business and community finance, mentoring, communication, and facilities to permanently restore policy debate in all of Houston’s public high schools.
Results: "A report published by the Houston Independent School District's Department of Research and Accountability shows that Houston Urban Debate League programming increases students' grades in core courses and improves attendance rates while decreasing incidents of discipline problems. This report demonstrates that at-risk students, those served by HUDL, gain significant academic and socio-emotional benefits from participating in debate. This report confirms what debate supporters have known all along: debate changes students' lives. The Houston League also has a 99.6% graduation rate, demonstrating the important value that debate brings to students. " Source: Houston Independent School District and National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
Target demographics: under-served and at-risk students
Direct beneficiaries per year: over 650 students in 29 HISD high schools
Geographic areas served: Houston
Programs: -Free one week summer debate workshops for students and coaches.
-Six two-day debate tournaments during the school year, including a city championship. The tournaments will be held Fridays after school and Saturdays.
-Four Saturday instructional academic seminars/workshops led by lawyers, college professors and other experts on competitive debate.
-Student and coach access to volunteer, debate expert mentors who are assigned to participating schools.
-Scholarship awards for selected participating students to advance their knowledge at university sponsored summer workshops.
The HUDL is able to offer students the trajectory-changing benefits of debate.
Hundreds of students in the Houston ISD participate in multiple debate tournaments over the course of the school year. The students report that the experience is live-changing! And Houston ISD students participating in HUDL have an on-time graduation rate of 99.6 percent, well above Houston ISD's average rate!
This organization is amazing! It gives high school students the chance to thrive in the debate community. I have volunteered with the Houston UDL for the past four years. Each time I work with new students they are so excited to compete and challenge themselves and represent their schools. Each student has encouraged me to come back as a volunteer.
