School Registration
(for Teachers & their Classes)
Registration is closed.
- Poetry Out Loud is open to any school in Washington State serving grades 9-12.
- Participating schools are encouraged to identify 2-3 teachers with one POL program coordinator to manage school finals, or act as the single point of contact for the school’s POL teachers. Exceptions may be made- Please contact us with questions.
- Registered schools will work with a regional coordinator as school champions move on to compete in one of four regional finals. Regional champions will move on to the state final.
- All students are eligible for participation and advancement in this program.
Individual Student Registration
(POL Virtual)
Registration is closed.
- Individual students may register for Washington POL Virtual if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- The student is homeschooled in Washington State, or
- The student attends a high school in Washington State that is not participating/registered in POL, or
- The student is a resident of Washington State attending an online, hybrid, or international school.
- No more than 4 students from an individual school can register for POL Virtual.
- Students participating in POL Virtual will need access to a computer and reliable internet.
- POL Virtual will hold its own online competition. The champion will go on to represent POL Virtual at the in-person State Final in March.
Program Timeline – Haga clic acá para leer esto en español.
2024-2025
- Washington Registration opens: August 20, 2024
- Registration closes: November 22, 2024
- Classroom Implementation/POL Virtual: between September 2024 and early January 2025
- School Finals deadline: January 17, 2025
- Regional Finals deadline: February 3, 2025; individual dates vary
- State Final: March 8, 2025
- National Final: May 5-7, 2025 in Washington D.C.
For basic information about this program, please read our Poetry Out Loud Fact Sheet.
There is no registration cost. Curricular materials are free and available online. In addition to classroom resources, ArtsWA provides additional support to participating teachers. Please visit our Resources for Teachers & Students page to learn more.
If you have questions, contact our Poetry Out Loud coordinator by email.
National Program Sponsors
Washington Program Partners
ArtsWA partners with organizations across the state. These partners support school and student participation and regional finals.
Eastern Washington:
Spokane Arts
Central Washington:
Yakima Valley College
Northwest Washington:
Skagit Valley Poetry Foundation
Southwest Washington:
South Puget Sound Community College
POL Virtual:
Tacoma Little Theatre
ArtsWA engages teacher leadership in guiding the program, and exploring opportunities for teachers and students to further connect through poetry. For the 2022-23 school year Carolyn Gilman, from Olympia High School, will bring her decade and more of knowledge and enthusiasm for Poetry Out Loud to the role of statewide Teacher Liaison.
Contact Us
If you have additional questions, contact our Poetry Out Loud coordinator by email.
Social Media
ArtsWA Facebook | ArtsWA Twitter | POL Facebook | Poetry Out Loud Twitter | Poetry Foundation