Congressional Debate

Congressional Debate is an event where students debate legislation in a group setting as if they were members of the United States legislature. Congressional Debate bridges the presentation and pathos skills learned in speech events and the research and argumentation skills learned in traditional debate events. Students gain an understanding of a wide variety of the most prescient issues facing the United States and the world. Students who participate in Congressional Debate become more knowledgeable of real world issues and develop the ability to opine on a broad variety of issues, making themselves more aware members of society as they mature. While competing at local and national tournaments, students in Congressional Debate are uniquely positioned to meet other students from diverse backgrounds due to the inherently social nature of the event.

Group Coaching Plan

Key Features

  • ~3 weekly group coaching sessions with different members of our elite coaching team

  • One-hour group coaching sessions will generally occur between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM PT on weekdays

  • Sessions rotate in format among mock rounds, topic lectures, skill lectures, office hours, and more

Cost: $104.99/month

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Premium Plans

Key Features

  • All of the above benefits of the Group Coaching Plan, in addition to one-on-one sessions with our coaches where we work with students to improve in key skills

  • One-on-one instructors are available to meet with students throughout the week at mutually agreed upon times. Unused sessions purchased during the 2024-2025 season roll over until June 30, 2025

Variations & Cost

  • Premium Plan with 2 one-on-ones: $199.99/month

  • Premium Plan with 4 one-on-ones: $299.99/month

  • Premium Plan with 6 one-on-ones: $389.99/month

  • Premium Plan with 8 one-on-ones: $474.99/month

Number of One-on-One Sessions:
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FAQs

  • Yes we absolutely do, please email us at info@ascendspeech.org or schedule a call on our Calendly to discuss your request!

  • We have an elite assortment of coaches in Congressional Debate that are excited to work with you. During registration, we ask for your top three preferred coaches and will do our best to pair you with one of those coaches, subject to their availability. You are welcome to request a new one-on-one coach at any time by emailing us at info@ascendspeech.org

  • Ascend Speech & Debate is the parent company of Academy Academy and Sandel Academy, and offers summer programs such as Ascend California and Ascend Online. We uniquely provide our students access to year-round coaching in which students learn from many of the same coaches they meet at summer camp. Ascend Academy is one of our two premier school year coaching offerings, along with Sandel Academy. See below for an overview of the two offerings:

    • Ascend Academy: Ascend Academy is an affordable and accessible school year coaching program built for all Congressional Debate students. Through multiple weekly group coaching sessions, Ascend Academy students engage with a diverse array of coaches, including both Ascend Academy-dedicated coaches and Sandel Academy coaches--both of whom teach Ascend Academy group coaching sessions.

    • Sandel Academy: Sandel Academy is an exclusive school year coaching squad intended for students competing at the highest levels of the activity and has a limited number of available seats.

    Unsure of which one is better for you? Let's schedule a call to help you decide! Please find a time that works for you on our Calendly.

  • Ascend Academy does not offer refunds.