Students tell education committee debate funding builds civic skills; $250,000 grant added to budget

Six high-school debaters told the House Ways and Means — Education committee that debate programs teach civil discourse and prepare students for leadership and careers.

"Through this program, you're ensuring that any student, regardless of their background, can grow into a citizen who finds empathy within arguments," Nathan Lee, a senior from Northridge High School, told the committee. Bethany Yin, a senior at Mountain Brook High School, said many public schools lack access and that financial support is necessary to expand participation.

Chairman Danny Garrett said the students originally drafted a bill but committee sponsors decided to fund the initiative through the budget this year. "We put a $250,000 grant program under American Village to do debate competitions for schools that uh need that help," Garrett said, introducing the students and the appropriation.

Representatives who spoke in support described debate as cost-prohibitive for some families and said the appropriation is intended to expand opportunities for underserved communities. Representative Falner recounted meeting the students and praised their presentation and preparation, saying debate encourages understanding multiple sides of an issue.

The appropriation was presented to the committee as part of the overall education budget package; chair and members framed it as an education investment rather than stand-alone legislation. Committee members offered praise and asked no formal amendments on the debate item.

The committee received the students' remarks and took the broader budget up afterward. The budget and education trust fund measures were described by the chair as expected to clear both legislative bodies after the upcoming break.