Poetry Out Loud Registration Program

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education initiative designed to encourage the study and appreciation of poetry among high school students through a structured recitation competition. The program offers free educational materials and opportunities for public performance, aiming to help students develop strong public speaking skills, enhance self-confidence, and deepen their understanding of literary history and contemporary poetry. In Kentucky, the program is administered by the Kentucky Arts Council in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation. Any representative from a Kentucky public or private high school may register for participation. Homeschooled students are eligible if they compete through a participating high school or via a regional competition hosted by a local library or community center. Students must be in grades nine through twelve. Participation is encouraged at the class and schoolwide level, with acceptance determined on a first-come, first-served basis depending on program resources. Each school selects a program coordinator—typically a teacher—who integrates poetry recitation into the curriculum, communicates with the arts council, and organizes the schoolwide competition. Schools receive a fully funded interactive residency from a professional teaching artist to assist students in preparing for competition, along with free multimedia curriculum materials. The school champion, chosen through at least two rounds of competition involving no fewer than two students, advances to the State Finals. The state champion receives $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Finals for a $20,000 scholarship. The state champion’s school also receives a $500 award for poetry book purchases. There are several restrictions to note: class sizes for teaching artist sessions are capped at 31 students, each class may only participate once, and teaching artists may serve between four and 25 classes in a five-day period. A teacher must be present during all artist-led sessions. The school champion must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as per NEA requirements. The teaching artist’s payment is contingent upon submission of the school’s final report within 15 days of the school competition. The program follows a set timeline. Registration closes October 3, 2025, with scheduling agreements due seven days after acceptance. Teaching artist residencies run from October 20, 2025, to February 20, 2026. State finalist registration is due January 23, 2026, with the State Finals scheduled for March 12, 2026 (tentative). National finals registration and competition dates are to be determined. Final reports from participating schools must be submitted within 15 days after their school contests. Applications are submitted through the Kentucky Arts Council’s GO Smart online system, requiring an “organization” profile. Schools should avoid creating duplicate profiles and contact the arts council for assistance if needed. Additional program details, including guidance on the application process, are available from the Kentucky Arts Council’s Arts Education Director, Cynthia Warner, at cynthia.warner@ky.gov or 502-782-4982. The council’s office is located at 500 Mero Street, Fifth Floor, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, with toll-free assistance available at 1-888-833-2787.

Read guidelines thoroughly before applying; store login credentials securely; avoid duplicate profiles; contact arts council for assistance if needed