How long has the CDL been around?
The Chicago Debate League (CDL) is the second-oldest Urban Debate League (UDL) in the country. Begun in 1997/98 with five High Schools, the Chicago Debate League now encompasses 42 CPS high schools, 6 CPS middle schools, more than 1,000 competing debaters, 82 CPS teacher-coaches, and more than 300 volunteers from the community. Four non-district schools have paid to join the League this year. The CDL has run the largest UDL tournaments in the nation.