Everything a debate program needs, delivered to the schools that have none of it.
CUDL works directly with schools, coaches in person, organizes competitions, publishes research and case materials, equips teachers, and connects the whole effort to college and long-term opportunity.
School support
We work directly with schools, teachers, coaches, and students. A partnership starts with a conversation about what the school has and what it needs, and it continues for as long as the program does.
- Program launch: recruiting students, setting a schedule, choosing a format
- A CUDL coach assigned to the school
- Ongoing support for the sponsoring teacher
- Help keeping the program alive through staff turnover
In-person coaching
Workshops and instruction taught at the school, by people who have competed. Sessions run from first-day fundamentals to tournament preparation.
- Argumentation and case construction
- Public speaking and delivery
- Research and evidence
- Rebuttals and cross-examination
- Competition strategy, flowing, and judge adaptation
Competitions
CUDL has organized and supported opportunities for students to compete locally and progress toward regional and state-level competition. We take care of registration, judging, and the logistics that usually keep under-resourced schools out of the room.
The competition pathway- Lincoln-Douglas
Value and criterion, explained - Lincoln-Douglas
How to build your first Lincoln-Douglas case - Lincoln-Douglas
Lincoln-Douglas rebuttal strategy: the 1NC, 1AR, NR, and 2AR - Lincoln-Douglas
Topic primer: Outer space colonization is a moral imperative
Research and case preparation
Students receive accessible topic briefs, evidence, case-development resources, and strategic preparation for the current Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum topics. Coaches at partner schools can request additional materials for a specific topic or tournament.
Browse free resources- A one-semester curriculum for Lincoln-Douglas or Public Forum
- Lesson plans a non-debater can teach
- Practice drills, flow templates, and ballot explanations
- A CUDL coach to call when a question comes up
Coach and educator resources
Most sponsoring teachers at Title I schools have never debated. Our materials assume that. They let a teacher build a sustainable program and get better at it every year, without a research budget or a debate background.
Resources for coaches
College and opportunity
Debate gives students skills, confidence, mentorship, and the kind of academic engagement that carries into college applications and college classrooms. Research on urban debate leagues links participation to higher graduation rates and higher postsecondary enrollment. We treat that outcome as the point of the program, not a side effect.
Why debate mattersA week in the program
Coaching in the building, research sessions, practice rounds, and the tournament weekend that follows. Swipe through.
Bring CUDL to your school.
We supply the coaching, materials, and competition access. You supply the students. There is no cost to the school.