About
In 2014 the New York City Urban Debate League and the New York City Department of Education partnered up to bring curricular debate and after school debate programs to over 100 New York City middle schools to close the achievement gap. The NYC Reads Debate program uses an evidence based argumentation curriculum to increase student literacy, writing, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. The NYCUDL team provides schools with teacher training, debate resources, workshops, and monthly debate opportunities for these students. Preliminary results show substantial gains in literacy for students participating in debate versus their peers who do not participate in debate.