Policy Debate
Debate big ideas. Defend bold solutions.
Policy Debate is where it all began for Chicago Debates, launching in 1995 as our first and longest-running program. Teams of two students spend an entire season diving deep into a topic, building cases for and against major policy changes by the U.S. government. Along the way, they sharpen their research, critical thinking, and advocacy skills, learning to think fast, argue persuasively, and tackle complex real-world issues. Policy Debate is available for our high school students and some select middle schools.
Policy Tournaments
Our Policy debaters put their skills into action at tournaments held throughout the school year. High school students compete in two-person teams across multiple rounds, spending their Fridays and Saturdays building, defending, and challenging arguments. Middle school students compete in Saturday-only tournaments designed just for them.
Each debate is judged on evidence use, logical reasoning, refutation, cross-examination, and persuasion—with real-time feedback helping students improve from round to round. Tournaments offer a dynamic, fast-paced environment where students not only compete but also grow as critical thinkers, advocates, and leaders.
