The 2014 Chicago Debate Summer Institute

We are very pleased to announce the 2014 Chicago Debate Summer Institute (CDSI), which will take place July 28 – August 8, M – F, 9:00am – 3:30pm, at Westinghouse College Prep, 3223 W. Franklin Blvd.

The 2014 CDSI registration form is attached.

CPS is also offering an opportunity for paid summer internships (June 30 – July 25). Interns must also register for and attend the CDSI, though CDSI registrants do not have to be summer interns. Internships are part-time, approximately 20 hours per week, up to 72 total hours, at $8.25/hour. Interns will be placed at businesses, non-profits, and elected officials’ offices around the city. A separate flier will be posted on the summer paid internship program, but (a) the CDSI registration asks if the registrant will be registering for an internship, and (b) contact Channyn Burnett (cjburnett1@cps.edu), who works for Sylvia at CPS, for additional information.

The CDSI is your students’ best local opportunity to prepare themselves for the 2014/15 debate season and the new oceans policy topic – no matter their experience level, raw novice to National Circuit veteran. The CDSI has a curriculum modeled on that of Northwestern University’s summer debate camp, the National High School Institute (tuition: $4,850). It focuses on skill-building and topic understanding, and is aligned with the CDL Debater Development Benchmarks. The CDSI staff is very carefully selected from the best local and national high school and college debate coach talent available. The CDSI provides our students with a unique opportunity on the CDL Season Calendar to work over a sustained period with debate instructors with both high-level National Circuit credentials and extensive urban debate experience.

The CDL administration continues to seek additional funding for the CDSI, but currently committed funding allows for an enrollment of 60 students. So, we plan to take the first 60 registrations we receive – with a completed application form (see attachment), along with $25 registration fee and (for non Title I students) tuition payment of $150. This tuition is highly subsidized by CPS funding this year. All students must pay the registration fee – students who are not Title I (i.e., do not receive free or reduced price lunch at school) must also pay the tuition of $150.

After we have 60 fully submitted student registrations, we will add all additional registrations to a waiting list, which we hope to be able to draw from, if and as additional funding sources are identified. The registration deadline is May 15, but we encourage you not to wait – the 60 guaranteed seats will likely be filled before then.

Note that all CDSI students receive lunch daily and a full set of the 2014/15 CDL Core Files, along with filing materials.

We’re very pleased to once again offer the Chicago Debate Summer Institute, and we encourage you to get your student registrations in as soon as you can.