High school teachers who are interested in participating in Poetry Out Loud should know that the programs requires less than two or three weeks of class time. High schools that wish to be part of the official Poetry Out Loud program must contact SPARC to participate. SPARC will determine which schools are eligible to take part in the official Poetry Out Loud program. Schools that are not in the official program may conduct their own contests using the online resources.

Contact Laine Satterfield at (804) 353-3393, x227, or Lsatterfield@sparconline.org or visit www.poetryoutloud.org for more information.

Click HERE to obtain a 2009 Poetry Out Loud Registration form!

Students who participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program may be eligible to compete in the state and national finals in 2009. Each winner at the state level will receive $200.00 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500.00 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100.00, with $200.00 for his or her school library. Poetry Out Loud will award a total of $50,000.00 in scholarships and school stipends at the National Finals, with a $20,000.00 college scholarship for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

For further information on Poetry Out Loud, visit www.poetryoutloud.org.

2006 Virginia state champion Johnny Coyle of St. Christopher's School recites "Dover Beach" by Matthew Arnold.