Start a Team
Join our community of coaches, students, and changemakers. We welcome all Chicago Public Schools and charter schools, with limited availability for private and suburban schools.
Ready to empower your students with the tools to think critically, speak confidently, and lead with purpose? Chicago Debates partners with schools across the city to offer transformative debate and speech programs that help young people find their voice. Whether you’re looking to launch a middle or high school team, we make it easy to get started.
Explore our What We Do page to see the impact and range of programs we offer—then take the first step in bringing debate to your school community
Middle School (5th–8th grade)
Public Forum – Our most popular format for middle schoolers.
Policy – Focused on one topic all season; more technical and in-depth.
Debate en Español – Debate for Spanish speakers using global topics and Spanish-language sources.
High School (9th–12th grade)
Public Forum – Our most popular format for middle schoolers.
Policy – Focused on one topic all season; more technical and in-depth.
Debate en Español – Debate for Spanish speakers using global topics and Spanish-language sources
Step 1: Choose Your Conference
Decide which grade level and style of debate is the best fit for your school community. We offer programming for grades 5–12 across several formats.
Step 2: Identify a Coach
Each team needs a coach. This can be a teacher, but any school-based staff member who’s committed to supporting students can lead a team.
Step 3: Connect With Us
Ready to get started? Fill out the contact form below and a member of our team will be in touch to schedule a meeting with your prospective coach and school administrator.
Contact Us
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