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ELEVATING
CIVIC KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND DISPOSITION 
FOR FLORIDA'S
 STUDENTS.

The mission of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative is to create access and opportunities for all students to have the best civics education including curriculum, debate programs, and high-quality teachers that are catalysts for students becoming great citizens who can preserve our constitutional republic for future generations.

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FCDI 2025-2026

HANDBOOK

The 2025-2026 FCDI Handbook is now available for download! From getting started with your new speech and debate team, to roles and responsibilities and debate event instructions, you'll find everything you need.

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SAVE THE DATE

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January 15-18, 2027 |Orlando

The National Civics and Debate Championship is a rigorous contest that thoroughly challenges students' knowledge, debate skills and endurance. While most conventional debate tournaments require students to compete in only one event, this event, the first and only of its kind, requires students to compete in different debate events on each of three tournament days.

We are the students

OF THE FLORIDA CIVICS AND DEBATE INITIATIVE.

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SEE UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS AND FCDI EVENTS

We're excited to host debate tournaments throughout the 2025-2026 school year. 

BY THE NUMBERS

FCDI GROWTH AND EXPANSION

67

SCHOOL
DISTRICTS

3,406

FLORIDA
STUDENTS

405

FLORIDA
SCHOOLS

For Novice and Experienced Coaches

FOR NEW COACHES

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BUILDING A TEAM

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COACH

LIBRARY

AMERICA...

YOU'RE IN GOOD HANDS

In 2019, to implement the Governor's executive order, Commissioner Richard Corcoran, the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Education Foundation recognized the success and potential of partnering with the Central Florida Debate Initiative to establish a statewide debate program that focused on civics education. The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative is the first of its kind to use debate specifically as a tool to enrich civics education and to have incredibly strong support from state leaders.

2026 State Championship

In April 2026, Florida’s top student debaters competed at the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship at New College of Florida and State College of Florida.

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2026 GREAT DEBATE

In January 2026, nearly 600 students from across Florida and the nation gathered in Orlando this past weekend to compete in the 5th Annual Great Debate: Florida’s National Civics and Debate Championship.

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FCDI Day at the Capitol 2026

On February 17, more than 100 speech and debate student leaders, coaches and parents from around the state gathered in Tallahassee for the fourth annual FCDI Day at the Capitol.

SPECIAL THANKS

TO OUR PARTNERS

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BE SOCIAL

THE FLORIDA EDUCATION FOUNDATION

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US

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As a valued partner in public education and a direct support organization for the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Education Foundation invests in high achievement for every student to contribute to Florida’s globally competitive workforce. The Florida Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Lindsey Zander, Florida Education Foundation Executive Director

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