Does your school participate in the Poetry Out Loud contest? If not, make this the year that it does!
Poetry Out Loud is the nation’s largest youth poetry recitation competition. Top finalists and their schools receive $50,000 in awards, including $20,000 for the National Champion. Nearly 3,000,000 students and 9,500 schools have participated.
Poetry Out Loud is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. The program encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high school students across the country. Poetry Out Loud gives students an opportunity to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.
Registration: Only schools registered with their state Poetry Out Loud coordinator are eligible for the competition.
Grade Level: Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th- through 12th-grade class.
Citizenship: Competitors at the state and national finals must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents with a valid tax identification or Social Security number. Tax identification or Social Security numbers are required to receive prizes, including cash payments or travel awards. Students are responsible for verifying their eligibility.
State Finals: A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition.
Homeschooled Students: Homeschooled students may participate by competing in a contest at a local school (at the school’s discretion) or with other local homeschooled students. Contact your state coordinator for specific guidelines.
School Not Participating? Students unable to participate at a local school should contact their state Poetry Out Loud coordinator to discuss other opportunities for inclusion in the state’s official competition.
Repeat Champions: Only National Champions are not eligible to compete in subsequent years.
For more information, please visit www.PoetryOutLoud.org.
