WJCT Public Media announced the launch of the 2021 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest. The organization will accept entries until March 15, 2021.

Starting its 27th year, the annual contest invites students in grade K-3 to submit their original writing and illustrations. The 2020 contest collected over 200 stories from Florida, Georgia, and other parts of the country as far away as California and Alaska.

The annual contest is an initiative designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning and is open to any child in grades K-3 who writes and illustrates their own story.

All writers and illustrators, who enter and meet the requirements of the contest, will have their work published online at wjct.org and receive a certificate. First-, second- and third-place awards will be presented for stories from each grade level; winners will also receive a WJCT PBS Kids prize pack, the opportunity to create a video reading of their story and an invitation to share their story live at Be My Neighbor Day on Saturday, May 9. Winning stories will be eligible for the People’s Choice grand prize, a $100 savings bond.

For more information, visit wjct.org/writerscontest.