FISD's speech and debate students are currently blocked from participating in many prestigious tournaments, including nationally-ranked and national-qualifying tournaments.

At present, the only way students can attend these events is by traveling with a district teacher using limited campus funds in some cases (these cases are also not clearly expressed). When staffing or funding is unavailable, which is often the case, students have no way to attend. Due to this, students have consistently been denied the opportunity to compete for NSDA Districts, the National Speech & Debate Tournament, and other major travel tournaments such as the Harvard and Berkeley Invitational Tournaments, regardless of their preparation or competitive ability. Meanwhile, other schools in the same district have been allowed to travel to and compete at these tournaments with no explanation to excluded students until after the tournament registration due date. The policies claimed to be set in place are never explained to students or parents, and competitors who strive for achievement are left in the dark about their competition opportunities all throughout the school year.

For students who spend months researching, writing, and practicing for these events, missing the opportunity to compete is more than disappointing. It means losing access to academic experiences that build public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership skills; opportunities that many students in neighboring districts, such as those in Plano ISD (where debate teams thrive and participate in prestigious out-of-state tournaments), are able to pursue due to transparency and support for students that doesn't seem present in our district.

Frisco ISD has strong academic programs and dedicated educators who support speech and debate at the local and state levels. We are grateful for those efforts on our administrators' parts. Our request is simply to ensure that students who are willing to work for these opportunities are not prevented from pursuing them due to structural limitations.

We are asking the district to consider several practical policy solutions that are currently used successfully in debate programs across Texas and nationwide:

1. First, allow alternative student supervision models, such as district-approved volunteer coaches, parent-proxy supervision, or hybrid supervision structures. These options would maintain safety while reducing the reliance on teacher availability.
2. Second, allow outside funding sources not tied to specific students, such as booster organizations or community sponsorships, to support coach travel and lodging. Currently, only a limited fund administered by the campus can support these expenses and no strong efforts are being made to accomodate coaches that are willing to support competitors. With a transparent framework, these funds will help expand tournament access.
3. Finally, establish clearly written guidelines outlining supervision requirements, funding parameters, and approval procedures so that families and campuses understand how participation can occur in order to successfully support their dedicated students.

Speech and debate tournaments are not simply recreational trips. They are rigorous academic competitions that prepare students for college, careers, and civic leadership.

Students who earn the opportunity to compete, or are capable of doing so, should be given the chance to try.

Please sign to make an impact and support expanded national opportunities for FISD speech and debate students.

-- Empowering Speakers for Excellence | esespeaking.org