Students become the champion of their own story by taking the skills they learn from the activity and developing their full potential within a caring, intellectually curious, and competitive community.
Our Statistics
Research shows young people empowered by the tools debate provides:
8x
Better School Attendence
6+
Increase in average ACT Score
2x
More Likely to take advanced courses
87.5%
Analyze information better than peers
75%
More likely to enjoy & engage
in Class
39%
Test higher in self esteem
12-14%
Increase in average MCA Reading Test Scores
Key Areas of Success
Outcomes
Extensively researched & evaluated – debate moves the needle on test scores, GPAs, grad rates, advanced classes and more
Student Agency
Students thrive as they become policy makers advocating solutions to the world’s biggest problems. They take their greater self-confidence and advocacy skills into their own communities.
Skill-Building
Listening, note taking, team-work, research, and thinking critically are all important skills for education, and for life!
Power of Losing
Innovators and entrepreneurs must get comfortable with risk taking and failure. Every debater loses, receives feedback, and jumps right in the next round of competition.
Content Knowledge
Debaters go in-depth on the inner-workings of government, economics, science policy, law, philosophy and social movements
Our Data
The MNUDL stands apart from other programs because of our data agreements with Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) and Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS).
Academic Outcomes
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) & 21st Century Skills
Impact Across the Nation


Our Programs Cost Half,
With Double the Impact
School districts with debate programs benefit through improved test scores in the critical areas of literacy and communication. Inside the classroom, debaters create critical dialogue on assigned topics and have the necessary research skills to truly benefit their peers through classroom participation.
Each dollar spent by a school district is multiplied because of our philanthropic funding. Urban debate is also highly efficient and cost-effective when compared to other out-of-school-time programming. A full academic season nationally costs under $750 per student served, compared with an industry average of nearly $1,500.
Bring urban debate to your school
Contact Amy Cram Helwich at cramhe@augsburg.edu to
learn more about how to bring these outcomes and more
to your school through debate.