Poetry Out Loud

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Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a free program created by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation for students in grades 9-12. Since 2005, the program has reached more than 3.6 million students and 55,000 teachers from 14,000 schools in every state, Washington, DC, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The program has helped students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage through classical and contemporary poetry.

Use the forms below to register your school for the program, sign up for free materials, and sign up your school winner for the Poetry Out Loud Tennessee State Finals Competition, which will occur at the Tennessee State Museum on March 14, 2020.

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2019 - 2020
Sept - Feb
  • Request Materials, Schools Register, Hold School Competitions
2020
Tuesday, January, 28
2020
Monday, February, 10
2020
Friday, February, 14
  • Deadline to book room at the event hotel at government hotel rate
2020
Fri - Sat, March, 13-14
2020
Mon - Wed, April, 27-29
  • Poetry Out Loud National Competition in Washington, D.C.

School Registration

Registration Deadline Extended!! Bring Poetry Out Loud to your school! Register your school by JANUARY 28th for the competition to receive materials and updates.

State Finals Registration

Have a winner? Register your student for the State Finals in Nashville, TN by FEBRUARY 10th.

Free Materials

Access free online materials, and sign up to receive the Poetry Out Loud Teacher's Guide.

Tennessee State Museum: Site of the 2020 Poetry Out Loud State Finals

The 2020 Poetry Out Loud State Finals will take place at the Tennessee State Museum. Pre-finals activities will occur in the Museum’s Education Classrooms on March 13th with the State Finals contest occurring in the Museum’s Digital Learning Center on March 14th.

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