Summaries of Changes for the Homeschool Leagues

For homeschoolers, there are two big leagues to be involved: NCFCA and Stoa. Both leagues change every year, and their announcements of these changes are nearly finished. I summarized these below to help you and your family get ready for a successful year of competition.

 

NCFCA Changes and Announcements for 2015-2016

1. No essay contest next year, but a story-writing contest instead.
2. Speech events
   • Returning: Biographical Narrative as a platform event and Original Interp as an interp event.
   • Not returning: Thematic and Humorous Interp.
   • New interpretive event: Biblical Interp.
     
3. LD resolution: When in conflict, the right to individual privacy is more important than national security.
4. TP resolution: That the United States Federal Court system should be significantly reformed.
   
5. National Opens:
   
   • January 6-9, 2016 at University of Wisconsin in Osh Kosh
     
   • January 27-31 Ridgecrest in North Carolina
     
   • March 16-19 at Oklahoma Baptist Univ, Shawnee, Oklahoma.
     
6. Nationals: June 14-18 at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.

Stoa Changes and Announcements for 2015-2016

1. Stoa will be hosting a Coaches Academy in Denver, Colorado, July 13-15.
2. Wildcard events rotate: Motivational Speaking will continue for its second year, and the new event Monologue will start its two-year run.
3. Rules for Stoa speech events are expected to be released in September.
4. LD resolutions (Stoa has two resolutions for the year):
   • In formal education liberal arts ought to be valued above practical skills.
   • Developing countries ought to prioritize economic growth over environmental protection.
5. TP resolution: The United States federal government should substantially reform its trade policy with one or more of the following nations: China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.
6. Nationals: Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, May 21-28.