The Broward Debate Initiative is a partnership between community businesses and local public school debate programs. With sponsorship options ranging from competition attire to individual tournament travel costs to full-year team assistance, your contributions help build résumés, teach valuable life skills, and ultimately change lives.

Why Debate?
Speech and Debate students learn research skills, logic, organization of ideas, manipulation of language, assessment of audience, self-esteem, and engagement in world events. These skills not only build better students, but they also build better college candidates, better employees, and better citizens.

How many schools are included in the initiative?
The Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Debate Initiative was implemented in the 2012/13 school year with 15 high schools. Debate programs are now active at every high school, every middle school, and quickly expanding to all elementary schools and centers.

How many students in the District are participating in the initiative?
There are approximately 15,000 students now participating in Debate.

Download the Debate Calendar 2024-2025

To see all that the Debate Initiative provides, take a look at our brochure.

In partnership with Pines Middle School, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School, and our many community sponsors, Broward Debate Initiative provides a year-round opportunity for students-in-need to get outfitted for debate tournaments in professional attire FREE of charge. To date, the suit drive has dressed hundreds of students for academic competition and continues to provide these necessary resources to students, changing lives through the power of a good first impression.

To find out how you can get involved and support the Debate Initiative contact:

Susan Cantrick, Director of Applied Learning
754-321-1859