In 2005-06 the first NJ Poetry Out Loud was launched by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts as a pilot program in seven high schools representing different regions of NJ. The Arts Council partnered with Playwrights Theatre of NJ/New Jersey Writers Project, which brings writing residencies to over 150 schools statewide annually. The pilot integrated an artist residency into the NJPOL program. The seven school finalists went on to compete in the state final at NJN Studios in Trenton. The 2006 State Champion, Teika Chapman from Trenton Central High School, went on to represent our state at the National Finals in Washington, DC.

In 2006-07 NJPOL expanded statewide and a total of 34 high schools representing 14 counties participated. Three regional contests conducted at NJ theatres sent six regional champions to the state finals at NJN Studios on March 22, 2007. Our 2007 State Champion Naja Selby from Arts High School in Newark represented NJ at the National Finals in Washington, DC and became one of only 12 national finalists.

In 2007-08 the Council continued to expand the program statewide. The program partners expanded to include Bergen County Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs and Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts. A total of 44 high schools representing 14 counties participated and expanded to include a home school association. State Champion Allison Strong from Union Hill High School in Union City represented our state and was in the top five students of 52 competing in the National Finals in Washington, DC.

In 2008-09 the number of participating students grew from 5,000 to 8,500. For the first time two regional Teacher Workshops were offered and State Champion Ijeoma Egekeze from Piscataway High School represented New Jersey in the National Finals in Washington, DC.

In 2009-10 NJ Poetry Out Loud celebrated its fifth anniversary with a record number of participants as 82 high schools and 1 home school association participated and 17,000 students got involved in reading, discussing and reciting poetry. Shamsuddin Abdul-Hamid from Arts High School in Newark was named State Champion and competed in the National Finals in Washington, D.C.

2010-11 represented another year of tremendous growth for NJPOL. We added a fourth region, and a new partner to manage the region, The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Arts in Morristown. A record 86 high schools across the state’s 21 counties enthusiastically partook in school-wide and regional contests. In fact, New Jersey was tied for third place among states with the greatest number of participating schools! Clarissa Lotson from West Orange High School in West Orange proudly represented New Jersey in the National Finals in Washington, D.C.

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