Classes meet once a week for two hours. Each class allocates time slightly differently depending on level, but generally, the classes are 30 minutes of public speaking practice/drills, 80 minutes of debate lecture/practice/activities, and 10 minutes of critical thinking activities. Every few weeks we will have in-class debates for the full class.

We have in-person classes in Glen Rock, Fort Lee, Livingston, and White Plains. We also offer online classes.

All new students begin in Level 1A, 2A, or 3A. They move through the levels each semester as they progress. 1A & 1B are for new 5th and 6th graders, 2A-2G are for 6th-8th graders, and 3A-3G are for 9th-12th graders. Each level presents new material, drills, and concepts.

Yes, we offer free trial classes so students can get a sense of what our classes are like prior to enrolling. You can register for a free trial class here.

Our policy on refunds is dependent on the timing of withdrawal requests. Bergen Debate makes significant advance commitments to faculty, curriculum planning, and facility scheduling in order to provide an excellent educational experience for our students. Accordingly, we depend on the assumption that registrations reflect confirmed participation.
That said, we understand that unforeseen circumstances can arise. Our refund and credit policy is designed to be both fair to families and consistent with the operational commitments we make each term.

1. Non-Refundable Deposit
‍A portion of every registration payment is a non-refundable deposit that secures the student’s spot in the program. This deposit is applied toward total tuition but cannot be refunded under any circumstances, as it covers administrative processing, staffing commitments, and the reservation of limited class capacity.

2. Prorated Refund or Credit — Before 3rd Class
Families who request withdrawal before the time/date of the student’s 3rd class are eligible for a prorated refund of tuition (minus the non-refundable deposit) or, if preferred, a prorated class credit applicable to future Bergen Debate programs or products within 12 months. Eligibility for this refund or credit is contingent upon the student not attending any subsequent classes after the withdrawal request.

3. Prorated Credit Only — Between 3rd and 5th Class
‍After the time/date of the student’s 3rd class but before the time/date of the 5th class, families may request a prorated credit for remaining sessions. This credit may be applied toward future Bergen Debate programs or products within 12 months.No cash refunds will be issued under this tier, and requests must be submitted before the student’s 5th class.

4. No Refunds or Credits — After 5th Class
‍Once the time/date of a student’s 5th class has passed, no refunds or credits of any kind will be issued. At that point, all tuition payments are fully non-refundable.

‍5. Transfers and Substitutions
‍When possible, Bergen Debate will make reasonable efforts to assist families in transferring registration to another class, session, or format (such as online programming or private coaching) to ensure students receive full value from their tuition.

We use Public Forum (PF) Debate, which is a two-versus-two style of debate focusing on current events, research, and critical thinking. It is the most popular and largest competitive debate event in North America. 

Topics are set by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) and change every 1-2 months of the debate season. You can view the topic listing here. Topics cover domestic and international economics, international relations, and moral issues

Yes, prior experience can often change a student's course recommendation. Please reach out to us at support@bergendebate.com to get more direct guidance on which course to register for if your student has prior experience.

We are proud to have an elite faculty of college graduates who were former champion debaters, coaches, and teachers instructing our classes. Please visit our faculty page to learn more!

Course registration is based on semester - Fall, Winter/Spring, and Summer. Typically, Fall registration will open in late February and remain open through the start of classes in late August or September. Winter/Spring registration will open in October and remain open through the start of classes in late January. Summer registration opens in February and remains open through the start of each session. For both Fall and Winter/Spring students may register up to three weeks after the start of the semester. For Summer, there is no late registration permitted for a session.

At most 12 students unless noted otherwise for partnership purposes.

Yes, our students will have practice debate rounds in their classes to get experience in live competition. Additionally, students are eligible to compete in both the IntraClub Competitions (starting at Level 2A) as well as being part of the Travel Team (starting at Level 2B). All students are eligible to compete at the End of Semester tournament.

The Travel Team are students who compete at external national level tournaments. 

Students are eligible for the travel team once they reach Level 2B.

You can view the semester schedule including days off here. 

Yes, we do online 1:1 private make ups via Zoom when you miss a class. We offer multiple slots each in order to accommodate your schedule. All families get two makeups as part of their tuition each semester. At the beginning of the semester you will receive an email entitled “Make Up Instructions & Information” — all the information is there. This information can also be found in your portal. You can schedule at most one week in advance.

Level X is our highest-level weekly class for high school students with more than 3+ years of experience. Students must be approved before registering for this class.

The Customized Learning Track is for advanced high school students looking for more flexibility in scheduling their courses throughout the semester who have taken Level X at least once. You can learn more about the Customized Learning Track here.

Fort Lee: 440 West Street (Third Floor)
Glen Rock: 66 Glen Ave (Lower level)
Livingston: 4215 Town Center Way (Suite 7C, 2nd Floor)
White Plains: 5 Waller Ave (4th Floor)

The curriculum and class structure is the same everywhere! Our coaches are taught uniformly & the coaches also rotate locations.