American Debate League

Fall 2026 Registration Now Open

Fall 2026

Live Virtual Debate Classes — Grades 4–12 Saturdays via Zoom • Separate classes by grade • Sept 19 – Nov 7

We Prepare Students for Harvard Nationals Live virtual tournament included • In-person tournaments available in NYC/Tri-State

Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer Sessions Multiple time slots available • $495 per session • Reserve your spot today

Enroll Now →

American Debate League — Afterschool & Weekends NOW
ENROLLING Live Virtual Debate Classes • Grades 4–12 • Separate classes by grade • Saturdays via Zoom Reserve Your Spot →

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4 Sessions a YearFall, Winter, Spring & Summer

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Harvard Nationals PrepWe prepare students for the tournament

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In-Person OptionLive tournaments in NYC/Tri-State

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Live via ZoomSaturdays • Grades 4–12

Upcoming Sessions Choose Your Session

□ Fall 2026

□Dates: Sept 19 – Nov 7

□Times (EST): 9–11AM • 10AM–12PM • 12–2PM • 1–3PM

$495Regular Rate

Live Virtual TournamentNovember 7, 2026

❄️ Winter 2027

□Dates: Jan 7 – Feb 27

□Times (EST): 9–11AM • 10AM–12PM • 12–2PM • 1–3PM

$495Regular Rate

Live Virtual TournamentFebruary 27, 2027

□ Spring 2027

□Dates: Mar 20 – May 1

□Times (EST): 9–11AM • 10AM–12PM • 12–2PM • 1–3PM

$495Regular Rate

Live Virtual TournamentMay 1, 2027

Our Mission Helping Students Become Better Thinkers, Speakers & Leaders The American Debate League was founded in 2014 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to develop debating, speaking, and literacy skills through debate training and competitions — ultimately improving self-esteem, academic achievement, graduation success rates, and access to higher education.

Competitive debate opportunities bi-monthly or quarterly throughout the school year

Live Virtual Debate Classes for elementary through high school students

Regional Debate Centers for students without access to a debate program in their school

Learn More Why Debate?

30%

Higher Graduation RatesDebate increases at-risk youth's chances of graduating high school

4 C's

NEA-Recognized SkillsCritical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration & Creativity

1,500+

Students Reached Every YearAcross NY, NJ, Westchester and beyond since 2014

Founded 2014 — 501(c)(3) Nonprofit300+ partner schools across NY, NJ & beyond — debate education that changes lives

See Us in Action ADL Is Making a Difference
In Our Community Watch how the American Debate League is transforming young lives through competitive debate — from New York City to New Jersey and beyond.

American Debate League — New York City Championships, sponsored by N.Y.S. Senator John Liu

✅ Register Now Spaces are limited — separate classes by grade, Grades 4–12 Enroll Today →

FORMER & PRESENT
DEBATE TOURNAMENT SPONSORS, PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS

Elected Officials Who Have Sponsored or Supported The American Debate League:
"Thank you for being our Partners and Supporters!"

American Debate League Summer Debate Camp Hosted in Partnership with Queens College
Left: NYS Assembly members: David Weprin, Clyde Vanel, Queens College Provost: Elizabeth Hendrey; Assistant Vice President of QC: Jeff Rosenstock

In Queens:

Queens Borough President Melinda Katz (Former)
N.Y.C. Council member Barry Grodenchik
N.Y.C. Council member I. Daneek Miller
N.Y.C. Council member Paul Vallone
N.Y.C. Council member Robert Holden
NYS Assembly member Alicia Hyndman
NYS Assembly member Andrew Hevesi
NYS Assembly member Brian Barnwell
NYS Assembly member Clyde Vanel
N.Y.S. Assembly member David Weprin
NYS Assembly member Michael DenDekker
NYS Assembly member Michael Miller
N.Y.S. Assembly member Nily Rozic
N.Y.S. Assembly member Ron Kim
NYS Senator Leroy Comrie
NYS Senator James Sanders, Jr.
NYS Senator John Liu
NYS Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng

In Brooklyn:

N.Y.C. Council member Alan Maisel
N.Y.C. Council member David GreenField (Former)
N.Y.C. Council member Kalman Yeger
N.Y.C. Council member Robert Cornegy, Jr.
N.Y.S. Assembly member William Colton
NYS Senator Kevin Parker
NYS Senator Roxanne Persaud

In The Bronx:

N.Y.S. Senator Gustavo Rivera
U.S Congressman Jose Serrano

In Nassau County:

N.Y.S. Assembly member Taylor Darling
N.Y.S. Senator Anna Kaplan
N.Y.S. Senator Kevin Thomas
U.S. Congresswoman Kathleen Rice

In New Jersey:

New Jersey Assembly Members Eric Houghtaling and Joann Downey
New Jersey Senator Vin Gopal

Partner Colleges:

Adelphi University (Long Island)
Queens College (Queens)
Kings College (Manhattan)
Hofstra University (Long Island)
St. John's University (Queens)
Lehman College (Bronx)
Bronx Community College (Bronx)
Westchester Community College (Bronx)

Community & School Organization Partners (Past & Present):

Community School District 17 My Brother's Keeper (MBK)
Community School District 29Q Annual History Fair
Jack & Jill of American Queens Chapter
Jack & Jill of American Nassau County Chapter
St. John's University N.A.A.C.P.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

"HELPING STUDENTS BECOME BETTER THINKERS, SPEAKERS, & LEADERS"

Competitive debate is the most effective school enrichment activity for disadvantaged urban youth to bridge the achievement gap and break the cycle of poverty and crime that plagues minority populations in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut’s urban core. Beyond statistics, which show that debate increases at-risk youth’s chances of graduation by 30% and odds of succeeding in college by at least that much if not more, debate boosts the National Education Association’s “4 C’s” (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity) to go beyond subject matter and prepare students to be effective citizens in the 21st century. New York City’s public school system is the largest in the US, with 1.1 million students. It is also one of the most segregated systems in the country, only behind Chicago and Dallas. And the schools that minorities and low-income students attend are the worst performing, with graduation rates hovering around 50% and college success rates for those that do graduate and qualify for post-secondary education below 20%.

Nowhere is an equalizer like competitive debate more needed, but there is a great gap in nonprofit programming for disadvantaged youth. In an effort to bridge that gap, American Debate League (ADL) was formed. The American Debate League was founded in 2014 as the nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to provide young people of all backgrounds the opportunity to develop debating, speaking and literacy skills through debate training and competitions that will ultimately improve self-esteem, academic achievement, graduation success rates, and access to higher education. The American Debate League also sponsors speech and debate tournaments in NY, NJ and CT throughout the school year and summer.