Standardized testing is a hot topic in the education field, especially as they relate to whether or not a student can graduate. In some states and school districts, even students with a high grade-point average may not be allowed to graduate if they failed to meet a specific level on that state's comprehensive standardized test. Specific topics could focus on gender or racial biases or whether certain students who excel in certain learning styles--such as auditory learning--are excluded by the standardized tests.
Nearly every student has wondered if homework is a valuable tool for teaching. This topic is especially ripe for a persuasive speech. Try to uncover research data that proves either that homework is a significant contributor to a student's educational learning progress or whether too much homework becomes such a burden that even bright students start getting bogged down and begin to make less improvement on their final grades as the years go by.
A very touchy subject, but one that may apply to one of your teachers or student peers is whether college professors should be allowed to date a student. One area of discussion may be the obvious ethical dilemma of professors dating students in their classes.
News reports may indicate that binge drinking is almost an epidemic on college campuses across America. Stake out a position that binge drinking is having an adverse effect on education, or give a speech arguing that the news media have covered the issue accurately or inaccurately.
This speech could be persuasive or it could be simply informational. The persuasive topic could point out any discrepancies between funding for athletics and funding for academic programs. An informational speech would cite the amount of money that athletics and academic programs each receive. Construct an informative speech if the amount spent on athletics is less than commonly perceived or if the amount spent on academics is more than commonly perceived.