For Organizers

Every year since 2005, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation work with thousands of schools and organizations nationwide to bring students a unique way to learn and love poetry. Through Poetry Out Loud™, students read, memorize, and recite classic and contemporary poems.

This year, LA County's Poetry Out Loud competition will hold the competition remotely and have an in-person celebration ceremony. Check back on this page for updated documents and forms.

Resources

Resources for schools and non-school organizations who are hosting a local Poetry Out Loud event.

• LA County Organizer's Training Slides for 2023-2024 Poetry Out Loud

  In this slide deck, you'll find instructions on hosting your own local Poetry Out Loud competition and be eligible to compete at the county, state, and national levels.

• 2024 LA County Poetry Out Loud Local Competition Registration

  Due by December 15, 2023.

• 2023-2024 LA County Poetry Out Loud Public Calendar

  Dates are tentative.

• POETRY OUT LOUD 23-24 ORGANIZER's TRAINING

  Watch video to learn how your organization can participate in the 23-24 LA County Poetry Out Loud competition!

• 2023-2024 Poetry Out Loud Teacher's Guide

  This guide includes information on how to hold in-person Poetry Out Loud events.

• How to Host a Virtual POL Competition

  A guide to help organizers administer an online competition in light of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.

• Poetry Out Loud Digital Score Sheet Instructions for Organizers

  Digital option for scoring student recitations.

• Poetry Out Loud Judge's Guide

  Judging recitations is one of the most important roles in Poetry Out Loud. This guide expands on the role of each judge and provides explicit instructions on how to successfully judge an event.

• Evaluation Criteria and Tips

  This guide provides an in depth articulation on each evaluation criteria and defines qualities of a good recitation.

• Scoring Rubric

  The scoring rubric is meant to provide a consistent measure against which to evaluate recitations.

• POL Lesson Plans

  Academic lessons that teachers can use in the classroom. Poetry Out Loud fulfills the NCTE Standards.