The national Poetry Out Loud recitation competition engages thousands of Rhode Island high school students each year. It connects them to great works of poetry, and builds self-confidence and public recitation skills.
Annually, each high school holds competitions to select a school champion who will compete at the state level. Then, each state's champion competes at the national level.
Participating schools receive curriculum resources including teaching artists’ workshops, an anthology of more than 1,000 works of poetry, lesson plans and access to expanded competition preparation materials.
Last year's RI champion was Virginia Keister of Chariho Regional High School. She competed virtually at the national finals last May for prize money of $20,000.
Register your school by contacting:
Martha Lenihan Lavieri, Program Coordinator, at
