Poetry Forward
Poetry Forward
Uplifting the Voices of Youth
Poetry Forward is a statewide original poetry writing program that supports and celebrates student voices.
NEW for the 2025-26 School Year
Poetry Forward will be open to all schools in Washington State serving grades 9–12—regardless of whether they participate in Poetry Out Loud.
Registration for Poetry Forward includes:
- Classroom resources
- The opportunity for your school’s poet champion to enter their work in the statewide original poetry writing contest.
Look for registration to open (right here!) on August 18, 2025.
Timeline & Fact Sheet
The ArtsWA Poetry Forward schedule is adjusted annually. While classroom resources can be used anytime during the school year, schools wishing to participate in the statewide contest can follow this general timeline:
- September: annual schedule announced, contest guidelines published.
- September – January: classroom implementation.
- Late January: schools report participating student poets to ArtsWA.
- Mid-February: poem entries due, including registration and permissions documents.
- Early March: winners are announced.
2025-26 Fact Sheet | Learn more about Washington Poetry Forward
Poetry Forward is an original poetry writing competition for Washington State students, now available to all schools serving grades 9-12. Students engage with language at its most concise, developing their use of the creative forms of poetry to express complex ideas and feelings.
- Poetry Forward is open to any school in Washington State grades 9-12.
- Participating schools are encouraged to identify 2-3 teachers with one lead teacher acting as program coordinator. Exceptions may be made- Please contact us with questions.
- Registered schools will have access to Washington Poetry Forward Classroom Resource materials to support classroom implementation.
- By whatever means the individual school determines, the school’s poet champion will be declared who will be eligible to enter their work in the statewide original poetry writing contest. Only one poet champion per school.
- All students are eligible for participation and advancement in this program.
- Registration: August 18, 2025 – November 21, 2025
- Classroom Implementation: Sept 2025 and early Jan 2026
- School Poet Champion deadline: January 16, 2026
- Poetry Forward Awards announced at the Poetry Out Loud State Final Competition: March 7, 2026
Program History
Poetry Forward was launched by ArtsWA in 2023 as a creative extension of Poetry Out Loud. Originally, it was open only to POL school champions and students participating in POL Virtual. Starting in 2025, the program expands access to reach even more Washington students, offering all high schools the opportunity to support and celebrate student voices through original poetry.
Poetry Forward Anthology
Click on the flipbook (left) to explore the Poetry Forward Anthology. Each chapter features a different contest year, showcasing the poems selected for adjudication, as well as those recognized as that year’s outstanding works. QR codes link to audio recordings of the winning poets reciting their pieces.
In 2025, the poem “Home” by Sidra Marshall (Anacortes) was awarded first place, and poems by Luis Mata and Elizabeth McAleer (Lacey and Battle Ground, respectively) were recognized with Honorable Mentions at the 2025 Washington Poetry Out Loud State Final.
The Poetry Forward Judging Panel for 2025 included:
- Dr. Tod Marshall, Gonzaga University, 2016-18 Washington Poet Laureate
- Kate Myre, Faculty at Cornish College of the Arts
- Mery Smith, current Spokane Poet Laureate
