Improved literacy skills
The Department of Education evaluated our debate program in partnership with the Middle School Quality Initiative during the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 academic years by analyzing middle school debaters reading comprehension growth as measured by the DRP (Degrees of Reading Power) standardized test assessment, and found that our debaters had DRP growth at almost twice the national average, and most excitingly, significantly greater than 2 control groups created with similar demographic profiles one in debaters’ own schools and one in schools without debate. Additional research founded that students participating in Urban Debate gained a 3.34 point increase on their reading scores compared to their peers who did not participate in Urban Debate, corresponding to a 12% increase in academic growth.
– NYC Department of Education