Newark Debate Academy

The Newark Debate Academy traces its origin back to the Jersey Urban Debate League and over 40-year history of Newark debate beginning in 1980 with the inception of the Science High School debate team, Newark’s first debate program. The Science High School team flourished into a powerhouse, where it maintained an over 20-year streak of New Jersey state champions in either Policy or Lincoln-Douglas debate. In 2001, Science High School’s debate coach Brent Farrand, took the bold step of joining a national urban debate movement started by the George Soros’ Open Society Institute. Farrand worked to establish debate programs in high schools throughout Newark, forming the JUDL. In 2010, The Jersey Urban Debate League adopted a five-year plan to broaden its mission to include debate in the classroom and public debate activities designed to enhance an environment of civic discourse. JUDL rebranded itself, becoming the Newark Debate Academy. As an organization, the Newark debate academy has gone on to reach thousands of students, sustaining its mission through 6 Newark Public Schools superintendents and 17 years of shifting currents of state control.