Florida Senate President Pro Tempore Jason Brodeur will join Seminole State College leaders Friday to highlight a $2.4 million state investment in the Florida Debate Initiative.
The funding, included in Florida's 2026-27 state budget, will support expanded speech and debate instruction, civic literacy education and competitive opportunities for students throughout the state.
The Florida Debate Initiative says it serves students across all 67 Florida school districts through competitive speech and debate, civic education, educator training and student leadership programs.
The new funding is expected to expand opportunities for students in rural and high-need communities, students learning English and justice-involved youth.
Friday's event will also recognize the organization's recent distribution of $323,000 in stipends to speech and debate coaches across Florida.
Of that amount, $79,750 was connected to schools and teams participating in the initiative's Central Florida region.
Brodeur, Florida Debate Initiative representatives, educators and Seminole State College leaders are expected to participate in the event.
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