About Us
Mission
NextGen Debate is a nonprofit program dedicated to providing free debate opportunities for all middle and high school students. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to establish vibrant debate programs in as many schools as possible, fostering the next generation of critical thinkers, leaders, and engaged citizens.
We’ve developed our own debate format, uniquely designed to transition seamlessly from middle school to high school. It’s easy to understand, yet challenging to master, allowing students at any level to engage meaningfully while continuously growing their skills. As we look to the future, we aim to expand upon these foundations, creating new formats that incorporate AI and cutting-edge technology. This evolution ensures that debate remains not only relevant but also engaging and impactful for today’s digital-native students.
Why Choose NextGen Debate?
NextGen Debate offers membership completely free. Here’s why schools across the region are joining us:
- Improved Academic Performance: Schools that have partnered with NextGen Debate have seen their students’ test scores improve consistently across all subjects, highlighting the broad academic benefits of debate.
- Positive School Culture: Our program promotes intellectual curiosity, respect for diverse opinions, and a genuine love for learning, contributing to a more inclusive and dynamic school environment.
- Comprehensive Resources: We provide all the materials and support needed to run a successful debate club. This includes curriculum guides, training for advisors, and access to a network of debate events and competitions.
- Tech-Enhanced Learning: Our debate formats leverage modern technology, engaging digital-native students and enhancing the learning experience.
- Teacher Compensation: Several state and federal education programs allow for funding to be allocated towards compensating teachers who serve as after-school debate club advisors, making it easier for schools to sustain these opportunities.
What do Members Receive?
As a member of NextGen Debate, you’ll gain access to a wide range of exclusive benefits including:
- The latest debate files and resources
- Online course certifications for students and judges
- Access to a network of debate events and competitions
- Free coaching and expert mentor advice
- Full access to all NGD tournaments and workshops
- Newsletters on upcoming events and topics
By partnering with NextGen Debate, your school will not only be giving students a platform to excel academically but also preparing them for future leadership roles in their communities and beyond. Our program is designed to be as accessible as possible, removing financial barriers so that every student has the chance to benefit.
A staff representative can register their school by signing up through our website. We’d love to discuss how NextGen Debate can support your school in offering these life changing opportunities for your students.
Founded in 2017, NextGen Debate started with a vision: Free debate opportunities for everyone.
Anthony Schneider grew up in the Palm Springs area and began participating in debate as a 7th grader in 2006. He has since always played an active role in the debate community. While attending college for business he volunteered at debate events until founding a nonprofit debate program of his own called NextGen Debate. Anthony is known for his organizational agility, business acumen, and leading sub committees who develop and maintain valuable debate resources like the Golden Speaker Rubric.
Anthony founded NextGen Debate with a vision of bringing the national debate community closer together. Debate opportunities exist throughout the U.S. in small, individual communities, that all follow a (at least slightly) different format and set of rules. Even the larger national debate programs charge a hefty fee to schools and do not provide a clear set of rules for participants to easily learn and follow. Debate is long overdue for a modern overhaul.
NextGen Debate is proud to provide all their digital resources, tournaments, and workshops completely free. We currently support debate events in the Palm Springs, Orange County, and now SF/Bay areas but aspire to help more pre-existing debate communities throughout the U.S. These pre-existing debate communities do not have to continue paying for debate and can instead, use NGD resources to enhance their participation experience while allocating extra finances to get more students involved. NGD is more inclusive, responsive, and maintains a high quality standard in everything we do.
NextGen Debate Initiatives
Camp
In 2022 NextGen Debate hosted its first camp retreat in the mountains of Crestline CA. This event was five days long, included meals, lodging, lots of camp activities and of course, debate! This camping experience would normally cost debaters upwards of $900 but thanks to local scholarships provided to us by the Anderson Grant foundation we were able to lower the overall cost down to $600. Eight low income debaters applied and received this experience completely free. A total value of $13,500.
Brain Nutrition
Debate events typically last over 6 hours and require participants to break and eat some food. Due to the large financial disparity of students in our program many are not able to bring meals or purchase food available to them at our events. Beginning in 2022 participants and volunteers receive free meals at our events so those essential nutrients get to the brain and no one is left unable to eat during these longer events. A total value of $9,000 has been allocated for this project.
Participation
As of 2023, we have reached 14 different schools in the Coachella Valley. Six of these schools use our curriculum to form a debate class for their students as an elective. We host a total of eight tournaments and one workshop annually for both our middle and high school leagues.
Support Us
There are multiple ways to support us in our mission. Our program runs off volunteers and we could use all the help we can get. We need volunteers to judge, teach, help setup/take down events, run the snack bar, create videos, manage social media, and so much more! If you have a special talent that can improve NextGen Debate please let us know! Start by registering yourself as a volunteer or reach out to us directly.
Additionally, we need financial support to purchase awards, food, debate supplies, and support our powerful online features. Your financial donations are tax deductible and we accept all forms of payment. Click below to donate online.
Help spread the word about this amazing program to other middle and high schools. Signing up is completely free!
Contact Us
Drop a message below or reach out to us directly at hello@nextgendebate.org. You can also call or text us at (760) 544-2191.