Nearly 200 high school students gathered at HCDE’s North Post Oak building on Sept. 21 for the 2024 CASE Debates Seminar, the official start of the debate season. The Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids funds this free program for inner-city youth, which provides debaters with training and access to coaches. 

Twelve school teams from YES Prep Public Schools and Aldine, Alief and Spring Branch independent school districts gathered to renew or learn the basics of the four debate formats: World Schools, Policy, Lincoln-Douglas and Congressional. 

The seminar provides a space where students can participate in mock debates and network with other high schoolers about strategies, best practices and various platforms. Their participation in CASE Debates also offers scholarship prospects and the opportunity to build self-esteem, expand their horizons and meet other like-minded students locally and nationally.   

Teams will compete in five tournaments throughout the school year, culminating in the Houston Urban Debate League’s City Championship Finals at the Bob Casey Federal Courthouse in March. The first tournament of the season will be on Oct. 19. 

Below is the CASE Debates tournament schedule.

To learn more about CASE for Kids, visit www.hcde-texas.org/afterschoolzone.