Essays, Congress, A+ Theatrical Design and more!
The UIL academic staff looks forward to working with you in the upcoming season. Please check our website for current information and forms, but feel free to contact us when you have questions or need assistance. Below is information that will help.
ACADEMICS
District Academic Meets
District academic meet directors are posted on the District Academic Meet Directors webpage.
Please contact the district meet director if you do not know the dates, location and schedule for your spring academic meet. District academic meets may only be held from March 24 to 29. Speech events may be held from March 24 to April 5. The One-Act Play Bi-District certification deadline is April 3.
Regional Academic Meets
Information regarding dates and locations of region meets has been posted on the Regional Spring Meet Sites. Schedules should be posted when the information is provided to UIL by the site.
Essay Competitions
The deadline for the essay competitions is Wednesday, Feb. 12. Students will find the entry form available via this page.
JOURNALISM
Centex Virtual Meet
ILPC Yearbook Deadline
Dec. 1 is the deadline to submit yearbooks to ILPC for critique and possible nomination for an ILPC Star. Click here to join ILPC.
Click here for more information about ILPC yearbook, newspaper, broadcast and online news contests. Email Alyssa Boehringer
with any questions.
SPEECH & DEBATE
Make Plans
If you have not already placed tentative reservations
for hotel space in Austin for the January (Congress), March (CX Debate), and May (Speech) state championships, you should do that now. Rates go up and availability goes down the longer you wait. Anticipate in advance your speech team’s success.
Congress
Coaches who qualify students for the State Championship in Congress should access the State Tournament webpage which serves as the information hub for meet details.
Cross Examination Debate
Individuals who are serving as the contest official running your UIL CX District Meet should submit a District Information form immediately. It
is past due. If your district will not be hosting a meet this season, please inform us.
Do you have middle school students who want to learn about debate?Want to start a feeder program n middle school to strengthen your high school debate program? Interested in adding debate as a contest at your middle school District Meet? Click here
to learn more.
Debate Coaches: Please register your
vote this month for the 2025-2026 policy debate topic. This is the final vote between Artic and Military Presence. Remember that this ballot counts toward our Texas vote. Don’t fail to contribute. If you are members of national organizations such as NSDA, NDCA, NCFL, NUDL you also can vote through that organization but be sure to cast your vote at this link to represent the Lone Star State.
STEM
Robotics State Championships
- BEST Division - Dec. 5-7, 2024 (Fair Park, Dallas)
- RECF-VEX Division - Jan. 30-Feb. 1 (Clear Creek ISD, League City)
- FIRST Division FTC - March 20 (Cadence Bank Center, Belton)
- FIRST Division FRC - April 3-5 (George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston)
THEATRE
High School One-Act Play
New deadline to request scenic elements not permissible under contest rules and to submit plays not on the UIL Approved List for consideration is Dec. 6 (postmarked Dec. 6).
Please do not submit plays on the UIL Approved list of short/long plays unless you are requesting scenic elements not permissible under contest rules.
Please review instructions on submitting a play or scenic items for UIL approval.
If you are requesting internal cuts, please check with the publisher before you begin your production and/or before sending your play for approval. Directors are responsible for securing all performance rights. The deadline for requesting special edits for Broadway Licensing, Dramatists and Playscripts is Dec. 6.
A+ Middle School/Junior High One-Act Play
Speechwire will open for Title Entry in January 2025.
UIL Young Filmmakers
Film Contest
Intent to Participate form is open until Dec 1, 2024. You are not required to participate if you change your mind. Entry Deadline is Jan. 11, 2025.
Interested in Judging for the UIL Film Contest? Send in your
interest form.
Judges training? Mark your calendar for a one-hour webinar Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. More information to come, check the
UIL Film webpage.
Theatrical Design
This year’s prompt can be found
here.
Intent to Participate planning
form now open.
Contest entry deadline is Feb. 15, 2025. For handbook and resources visit the Theatrical Design
webpage.
A+Theatrical Design Contest Pilot
UIL is rolling out a new contest pilot for middle/junior high students. See
contest prompt, which contains information on how a pilot contest may look like for your school or district. Questions? Email
Rachael Gomez, contest director.