page_title: Stoa USA
section_title: Overview
hierarchical_section_title: Stoa USA / Overview
context_page_description: Stoa USA, also referred to as Stoa, is a Christian homeschool forensics organization in the United States. It is one of the four major national high school forensics organizations.
  Stoa is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an ancient Greek portico usually walled at the back with a front colonnade designed to afford a sheltered promenade.” The Stoa was a common fixture of many towns in Ancient Greece and was used as a place where people could debate and discuss their ideas.
context_section_description: Stoa was created in 2009 to better serve the needs of the growing homeschool speech and debate community. Its website explains that its objective is “to train Christian home schooled youth in speech and debate in order to better communicate a Biblical worldview.”
  Stoa USA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. It is governed by a Board of Directors who oversee its day to day operations and propose rule amendments which affect competitors nationwide. Members vote on important issues, such as debate resolutions and significant rule changes. Judges are usually parents, coaches, alumni, or members of the community.
  Stoa sanctions only one tournament each year, the National Invitational Tournament of Champions (NITOC) (referenced below).
  Stoa exists to support state and local organizations in running tournaments, but recognizes the autonomy of those at the state and local level to operate in a manner that best serves their particular needs. Some locally-run tournaments attract hundreds of Stoa competitors each year, such as the one typically held in the spring at Concordia University in Irvine, CA.
  Because homeschooled students are not typically associated with schools, most affiliates belong to member “Clubs.” Most club members live in the local area around where their club is based.
caption: A stoa in Athens. Stoa USA derives its name from this common feature of Ancient Greek architecture.[7]
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