The National Schools Project, initiated in 1994, is designed to share our youth’s talents with others, supply a national audience for student writing, and provide a publishing opportunity for young poets. Schools around the nation are invited to participate in the project by submitting their students' most creative poetry. A panel of educators reviews the poetry submitted and selects poems to be published based on a list of literary criteria (check Project Description). The authors of poems selected are notified individually and written parental permission gained to print their poetry. There is no charge to the student for publication, and a free copy of the book is sent to the participating school library. Additionally, any school can request a complimentary copy at any time.

The project employs high school and college students who work around their school hours and extra-curricular activities. The project sponsors fundraisers at area high schools and gives awards to schools.  Here is a list of the 2008 Poetry School Winners

The book is published annually. It ranges from 192-224 pages (depending upon the number of student poems selected and the number of parent permission forms received). Poems are placed in the book according to their subject category and an index of authors is located at the end of the book. Each page is illustrated.

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