The National Academic League® was founded in 1992 by Drs. Terrel H. Bell, former U.S. Secretary of Education.  Today, there are leagues in school districts all across the country.  Baltimore’s National Academic League® has 26 teams in elementary-middle schools throughout the city with over 500 students participating.  The Abell Foundation has sponsored the program in Baltimore City Public Schools since 1993.

The NAL® games combine familiar “That’s Academic”-style questioning with a format common to team sports.  There are substitutions and time-outs, shot clocks and scoreboards, and the teams are encouraged to bring spectators and cheerleaders.  The students have to answer a wide range of questions related to science, English, mathematics and social studies.   NAL® teams practice several times a week and play bi-weekly games during the season which extends from October through March.

For more information about the league, contact the Baltimore NAL® League Commissioner Carolyn Williams at cwilliams@abell.org.