Poetry Out Loud uses a pyramid structure that begins at the classroom level. Teachers organize contests with one class or can involve a whole school. Winners from each participating school will advance to the state finals in Columbus to be held Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Ohio Dominican University. The winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington to compete for the national championship. The state winner's school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Two runners-up will receive a cash prize for themselves for their school libraries. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in scholarships and school stipends will be awarded to the winners at the National Finals. The National Finals will be held in Washington, DC, May 15, 2012.

2011-2012 Poetry Out Loud Event Timeline CBS coverage of 2009 Poetry Out Loud National Competition WOSU ArtZine video about Poetry Out Loud

2011 Ohio Poetry Out Loud Champion Caira Lee (center) at the POL National Finals in Washington, D.C.   Photo by James Kegley   Program Materials | FAQs | State Contest Past Contests | Partners | Press Room   Get involved in this exciting program today! Register Ohio's Poetry Out Loud State Champions   Jackson Hille Tony Jackson Rachel Chandler Mido Aly Lynsay Strahorn     Click here for Poetry Out Loud MySpace page. Click here to follow Poetry Out Loud on Twitter. Click here for Poetry Out Loud's Facebook page.