Competitive debate instills in Florida's students a love of country, a sense of community service, and a deep appreciation for our government systems. The Florida Debate Initiative (FDI) is dedicated to fostering a new generation of leaders by providing access to exceptional civics education resources, debate programs, and expertly trained teachers.
OUR
VISION
Our vision is a Florida where every student, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has the opportunity to thrive through access to speech and debate initiatives and where competitive debate equips all students with the transformative skills of communication, leadership, and critical thinking, fostering a future where every young person can confidently lead and succeed in our interconnected society.
OUR
MISSION
At the heart of the Florida Debate Initiative (FDI) lies a passionate mission: to open doors wide for students through the power of speech, debate, and civics education. We envision a Florida where every student, regardless of background, has the chance to excel as active citizens and effective leaders in our interconnected society. By championing increased participation in local speech and debate teams, FDI enhances educational achievement and fosters a culture of excellence within Florida’s Education System.
OUR GOAL
IS CLEAR
To empower students with the skills and confidence they need to succeed, offering them invaluable educational, leadership, and professional opportunities that transcend the traditional classroom experience.
GOALS TO
IGNITE CHANGE
1,000 BRIGHT FUTURES DAYS
Transform the hours high school students dedicate to debate and speech programs into valuable service work for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program (HB 807 2019). By recognizing these efforts, we can enhance the opportunities for students to secure scholarships that have already benefited over 950,000 Florida students, including the prestigious Florida Academic Scholars Award (FAS), Florida Medallion Scholars Award (FMS), Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars Award (GSC), and more.
OFFICIAL SPORT RECOGNITION
Let's get speech and debate recognized as an official sport in the State of Florida! By achieving this status, we can elevate the profile of these programs, attract more participants, and provide the recognition our talented students deserve for their hard work and dedication.
CIVICS, SPEECH & DEBATE WEEK
Our vision includes passing a law to officially commemorate Civics, Speech & Debate Week (or Day) in Florida. This celebration would spotlight the importance of these disciplines, encourage broader participation, and highlight the critical role they play in developing informed, articulate, and engaged citizens.
OUR
STORY
IN THE BEGINNING
In February 2019, Florida’s then-Commissioner of Education, Richard Corcoran, visited Apopka High School to see firsthand what was taking place on a Saturday morning. What he found was nothing short of an all-star game for the mind. Under the leadership of a dedicated team of Central Florida educators, attorneys, coaches, and civic leaders, the Central Florida Debate Initiative had transformed the campus into a showcase of academic excellence. Hundreds of students from public schools across the region filled the hallways, dressed professionally and passionately competing in speech and debate events that demonstrated critical thinking, research, and civic engagement at the highest level.
Commissioner Corcoran, half-jokingly, asked whether the students were there willingly. But as he watched them confidently debating complex issues while citing philosophers, constitutional principles, and historical precedent, it became immediately clear that these students were not simply participating—they were thriving.
Among the initiative’s earliest leaders was Tara Tedrow, a three-time National Speech & Debate Association National Champion representing Celebration High School. After earning a Presidential Debate Scholarship to Wake Forest University and graduating from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Tedrow returned home as a land-use attorney only to discover that Central Florida’s once-thriving speech and debate community had largely disappeared.
Determined to reverse that trend, Tedrow joined fellow attorneys, educators, coaches, and community leaders in launching the Central Florida Debate Initiative with one bold vision: restoring speech and debate as a premier academic opportunity for Florida’s public school students. During the organization’s formative years, she personally invested significant financial resources, countless volunteer hours, and strategic leadership to transform that vision into reality. Under her leadership as Chair of the Board of Directors, the initiative expanded into new schools, forged strong community partnerships, and demonstrated that a statewide movement was not only possible—but necessary.
Today, Tedrow continues to serve as Chair of the Florida Debate Initiative Board of Directors and as Chair of the Florida Education Foundation Board’s Civics Committee, where she remains a leading advocate for civics education and speech and debate throughout Florida.
Between 2014 and 2019, the initiative grew to serve 22 schools across Orange, Lake, and Osceola Counties. That success ultimately inspired Commissioner Corcoran to embrace a statewide vision for civics and debate education.
THE BIRTH OF THE FLORIDA CIVICS AND DEBATE INITIATIVE
With a transformative $5 million private philanthropic investment and $1.425 million in State of Florida funding for the 2019–2021 school years, the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative was born.
This landmark investment united the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation, and the leadership of the Florida Debate Initiative around a shared vision: expanding access to high-quality civics education, speech, and debate opportunities for students throughout Florida.
The results were immediate.
In its inaugural year, the initiative expanded debate programming from just 10 of Florida’s 67 school districts to 47 districts, launching 161 new middle and high school speech and debate programs across the state.
The mission was ambitious: ensure every student, regardless of zip code, had access to exceptional civics education and competitive speech and debate opportunities.
The vision was even greater—to make Florida a national leader in civics education by equipping students with the communication, critical-thinking, civic-engagement, and leadership skills necessary for success in college, careers, and public life.
In November 2021, the initiative celebrated another milestone with the inaugural National Civics and Debate Championship, welcoming students from across the nation to Orlando and crowning the country’s first National Civics Champions.
A NEW ERA OF GROWTH
In November 2022, Abraham López joined the Florida Debate Initiative as President and began leading the organization into its next chapter of growth and institutional development.
At the time, the organization operated without a permanent headquarters or full-time administrative infrastructure, with much of its work coordinated from López’s dining-room table.
Working alongside the Board of Directors, dedicated staff, educators, volunteers, and statewide partners, FDI entered a period of significant organizational growth and professionalization.
The organization established its first permanent headquarters, built a full-time professional staff, expanded its statewide network to hundreds of educator contractors, strengthened its financial and administrative systems, enhanced its governance and operational infrastructure, diversified its fundraising efforts, and significantly expanded its statewide educational programming and organizational capacity.
Today, the Florida Debate Initiative is a leading statewide nonprofit dedicated to civics, speech, and debate education. Through its partnership with the Florida Department of Education’s Florida Civics and Debate Initiative, FDI serves hundreds of schools and thousands of students each year.
The organization administers a growing portfolio of publicly and privately supported programs, including academic competitions, educator professional development, summer institutes, civics immersion experiences, student leadership initiatives, scholarships, and innovative educational programs that strengthen civic knowledge, communication, and critical thinking.
While much has changed since those early days in Central Florida, one thing has remained constant:
Every student deserves the opportunity to find their voice, think critically, communicate effectively, and develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become an informed citizen, capable professional, and principled leader.
That mission continues to guide the Florida Debate Initiative as it partners with the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation, educators, community leaders, and supporters to prepare the next generation of Floridians for lives of leadership, service, and civic responsibility. Through civics, speech, and debate education, FDI is helping develop informed citizens, capable professionals, and principled leaders prepared to strengthen Florida’s communities, contribute to its workforce, and meet the state’s future needs.
LEADERS
SUPPORTING A NEW
GENERATION OF
PROMOTING
CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT
Your support ensures that students receive a comprehensive civics education, encouraging them to become informed, active citizens who understand the democratic process, promoting a more vibrant civic engagement.
BRIDGING
EDUCATIONAL
GAPS
With your help, FDI can reach underserved communities, ensuring that every student, regardless of their socioeconomic background, has equal access to quality speech and debate education, leveling the playing field and providing pathways to success.
EMPOWERING
EMERGING
LEADERS
By supporting FDI, you help provide students across Florida with the tools and opportunities to develop their public speaking and debate skills, fostering a generation of confident, articulate leaders who are ready to make a difference in their communities.
STAY UP-TO-DATE
LET'S BE
SOCIAL
MEMBERS
