Poetry Out Loud: 2025 State Finals

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a national program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition to high schools across the country. POL uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Winners advance to a school-wide competition, then to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals in Washington, DC. More than 100,000 students are expected to take part in POL nationwide each year.

The 2024-2025 POL program and state finals event will be implemented in-person.  Experienced poetry teaching artists will be available to work with you to implement the POL curriculum.  Teachers and students may request cost-free virtual or in-person assistance in selecting poems, poetry performance techniques, and implementing the program.  Guidance in requesting and hosting POL artists residencies to help your organization participate in this program is available at any time.  The guidance program will include teacher training workshops, classroom workshops for students and one-on-one coaching sessions with school winners.  Judges for the Poetry Out Loud Finals are selected for their backgrounds in literature, poetry, and theater.  The state winner will be announced in early March.

The Delaware Division of the Arts will provide guidance in running your school’s POL program and is happy to answer any questions or concerns.