Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation program that brings poetry to life through student performance, learning, and shared experience. A program of the National Endowment for the Arts, developed in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts, it serves high school students across the United States. The competition helps students strengthen public speaking skills, build confidence, and explore literary history and contemporary life.

Poetry Out Loud offers an online anthology of classic and contemporary poems, along with free lesson plans and educational resources for teachers and organizers. Students can find guidance on choosing and reciting poems, watch performance videos, and learn what to expect in competition. Educators and organizers can access materials for classroom programs, event planning, and judging, as well as standards information and competition guidance.

Since its launch in 2005, the program has reached more than 4.6 million students and 89,000 teachers in 22,000 schools.