What is Poetry Out Loud?

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. Rather than being a simple exercise in memorization, learning to recite poetry encompasses college and career ready skills, including structural analysis, interpretation of meaning, point of view, close-reading and the use of higher order thinking skills. Registration will be open online through November 15, 2024, with the Alaska State Competition to take place in Juneau in March, and the National Competition in Washington, DC in May!

We encourage all to participate, whether you’re representing your school or participating as an individual; we intend participation in Poetry Out Loud to be simple and accessible to all! Both public and private schools are eligible to participate in the Alaska Poetry Out Program. Alaska students currently enrolled in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate in Alaska Poetry Out Loud, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th- through 12th-grade class. For complete eligibility information visit the National Poetry Out Loud website.

Please click here to download and read the Registration Information and Guide for Alaska Poetry Out Loud in 2024-2025

Click here to register for Alaska Poetry Out Loud 2024 – 2025

2024-2025 Timeline

September 1, 2024
Poetry Out Loud online anthology live for 2024-25 school year

September 13 – November 15, 2024
Alaska Poetry Out Loud (AK POL) Registration for schools and at-large participants open

November 15, 2024
Deadline for AK POL Registration

Prior to winter break

  • Recommended completion of classroom/school competitions
  • Communication/Coordination with AK POL School Liaisons and At-large Student registrants about in-person and video-adjudicated Regional Competitions.

January 27, 2025
Deadline for submission of video recitations for Alaska Video-adjudicated Regional Competition

February 3, 2025
Deadline to hold In-person Regional Alaska Poetry Out Loud Competitions

January 30 – February 2, 2025
Alaska Regional Poetry Out Loud Video Adjudication

February 4, 2025
Announcement of AK POL State Finalists!

February 7, 2025
AK POL State Finalist online meet-and-greet (zoom)

February 7 – March 8, 2025
AK POL distance coaching, coordination, and preparation

March 9 - 11, 2025 (tentative – updates to be made no later than October 8, 2024)
Alaska State Poetry Out Loud in Juneau (Competition to be held the evening of March 10th)

March 20, 2025
Deadline for state champs and chaperones to register for National Finals

May 5 - 7, 2025
Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC

POL Contact Info

Juneau Arts and Humanities Council
email: pol@jahc.org
phone: 907-586-2787

Laura Forbes, Arts Education Program Director
Alaska State Council on the Arts
email: laura.forbes@alaska.gov
phone: (907) 269-6682

All Rights Reserved by the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council