POETRY OUT LOUD!
State Poetry Out Loud contest highlights student talent: MARCH 9!
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota high school students will share their talents and the work of great poets while competing for the state title at the Poetry Out Loud recitation competition March 9 in Sioux Falls.
The event begins at 1 p.m. CDT, Monday, March 9, at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls. *Five students will compete for the title of state champion through the recitation program. One student has already won the original poetry competition, and they will present their poems at the event.
The student who places first at the state competition will represent South Dakota in Washington, D.C., and compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, April 27-29, 2026.
STREAM POETRY OUT LOUD STATE FINALS
The contest is free to attend, open to the public, and will be livestreamed online at https://www.youtube.com/@SouthDakotaArtsCouncil.
Competition begins at 1 pm CDT, Monday, March 9
South Dakota Poetry Out Loud 2025 state champion Teonna Randall, then a senior at Jefferson High School in Sioux Falls, competes in the National POL Finals in Washington, D.C., where she placed 2nd in the entire nation, earning a $10,000 prize.
WHAT IS POETRY OUT LOUD?
Poetry Out Loud is a FREE program for South Dakota high schoolers (grades 9-12), in public, private, or home school, that encourages students to learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. This program provides avenues for students to master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, learn about their literary heritage, and compete for more than $50,000 in prizes.
IMPORTANT DATES IN 2025-2026
November 1, 2025 – No changes to anthology of poems eligible for competition after this date
November-December, 2025 – Schools/teachers/students encouraged to complete online form to receive important program updates for 2025-2026 program/school year
January 29, 2026 – Deadline for schools/students to register
February 9, 2026 - Preliminary Round video submission due
February 23, 2026 - State qualifiers notified
March 9, 2026 - State Finals competition in Sioux Falls ($150 stipend + travel reimbursement for teachers)
April 27-29, 2026 - National Finals in Washington, D.C. (All-expenses paid for state champion and chaperone) including the following activities:
- Monday, April 27, 2026: Welcome Activities
- Tuesday, April 28, 2026: Semifinals
- Wednesday: April 29, 2026: National Finals
RESOURCES : Teachers Guide to Poetry Out Loud:
https://poetryoutloud.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/FINAL_ACCESSIBLE_POL_2025-26-TG.pdf
Find resources for teachers, competitors and judges and explore the online anthology of poems eligible for competition at: https://www.poetryoutloud.org/
NCTE & COMMON CORE STANDARDS:
As teachers, you have more to do than prepare lesson plans and teach. At Poetry Out Loud, we've developed FREE lesson plans and classroom resources to help complement your busy schedule. This program also satisfies more than half of the NCTE English Language Arts Standards along with many of the Common Core State Standards in Reading and Language.
Read more about how POL satisfies these standards here: https://poetryoutloud.org/teachers-and-organizers/ncte-and-common-core-standards/
The schedule and curriculum for Poetry Out Loud can be completed in 2 - 3 weeks, depending on each teacher’s schedule. It DOES NOT require full class periods, so instructors can take it at their own pace. We also have virtual POL lessons that students can access on their own. Check out our Youtube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT4a42VZ5YbUsIHN8y-6X5ioaoLrew7Z0
PRIZES:
State Champion: The state winner will receive $200, and their school/organization will receive $500 for poetry materials; the state champion also receives an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., with a chaperone to compete in the Poetry Out Loud National Finals for a chance to win $20,000!
Runner-Up: The state runner-up will receive $100, and their school/organization will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry materials.
Original Poetry: The state winner of the original poetry competition will receive $100, and their school will receive $100 for the purchase of poetry materials. The runner-up will receive $50, and their school will receive $50 for the purchase of poetry materials.
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