Equity Focus Areas
Equity Focus Areas – 2025-2026
Our commitment to equity is grounded in the belief that every member of our community deserves a speech and debate environment that reflects our mission. All participants are entitled to a caring, welcoming space—one that fosters conditions of fairness, promotes inclusion, encourages participation, and safeguards against harassment and discrimination.
- We each share the responsibility to be good stewards of this activity.
- Our students deserve meaningful, constructive feedback that encourages their growth and inspires them to continue participating in speech and debate.
- Our coaches and judges deserve opportunities to strengthen their programs and advance their craft.
- Every member of our community deserves to be supported and understood.
Since 2017, the NSDA’s annual equity focus areas have outlined intentional steps to reinforce and expand our core value of equity. Through these focus areas, we commit to purposeful work today so that every voice can thrive in speech and debate tomorrow.
2024-2025 Year in Review
Interpersonal Communication Competence
- 82.8% of districts committed to providing a tournament resource focused on interpersonal support and/or addressing harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate conduct (e.g., BIS, Equity Office).
- Launched the Community Learning Series (CLS), with 65% of participants completing at least one unit for professional development credit. The CLS offers structured learning units to help coaches foster inclusive team cultures and tournament environments.
- The Ballot Review Committee and Belonging and Inclusion Station worked collaboratively for a second consecutive year.
Wellness
- The Wellness Committee introduced the Wellness Lens – a tool designed to help decision makers keep health and well-being at the center of every choice. The Wellness Lens encourages reflection on how decisions impact students, coaches, judges, and visitors.
Access
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- Introduced the National Tournament Judge Grant, which helped cover costs for 18 coaches to attend, bringing more qualified judges who otherwise may not have been able to participate.
- Streamlined the process for submitting ADA accommodation requests at the National Tournament.
- The NSDA awarded over $145,000 in membership discounts and grant funding, providing increased access and opportunities to more than 500 schools.
- The 3rd Annual Activating Equity Award was presented to the Center for Democracy in Deaf America. As part of the award, CDDA will receive $5,000 to further its mission of creating equitable opportunities in speech and debate. The funds will support the development of ASL-centric debate training workshops and videos, specifically designed for Deaf debaters, expanding access to resources nationwide.
2025-2026 Focus Areas
Wellness
The well-being of participants remains essential to the success and sustainability of our activity. We take a holistic approach, recognizing that spiritual, emotional, social, mental, environmental, and physical dimensions of well-being all contribute to achieving our objectives.
Community Engagement
Speech and debate should nurture growth, creativity, reflection, and joy. Meaningful engagement with students and coaches ensures the activity continues to flourish.
Coach Development
This year’s focus includes improving ballot feedback to help students grow and supporting coaches as they guide students toward their best work.
2025-2026 Goals
- Strive for 100% of district tournaments to feature a Belonging and Inclusion Station or a similar resource for interpersonal support and/or addressing harassment, discrimination, or inappropriate conduct.
- Award 100 hours of professional development credit through Community Learning Series units.
- Create a toolkit to encourage helpful, substantive ballot writing.
- Develop a resource for hosting tournaments during religious holidays.
- Assemble a working group to understand concerns from conservative-identifying coaches and students.
- Continue supporting caucus and interest group co-chairs as they share coaching strategies and connect coaches with the National Office.
- Strengthen connections between the Ballot Review Committee and the Belonging and Inclusion Station to ensure alignment.
- Enhance the learning function of the BIS resolution process. Beyond corrective actions, participants may complete a quiz, engage with a CLS unit, or submit a reflection to foster growth.
- Identify the most effective ways for the NSDA to provide direct support and mentorship for coaches—especially new coaches and those exploring new events—while keeping wellness and community at the center.