Dear Spelling Bee Coordinator:

The spelling bee committee of the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) has been planning for another successful spelling bee program for the school year. GAE is again proud to offer Georgia students an opportunity to exhibit their proficiency in the art of spelling and, just as importantly, vocabulary. If a contestant is successful at the school system level, then he/she will have the opportunity to advance to the region competition.  The region winners and runners-up compete in the state spelling bee with the state winner advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

This school year, the Scripps National Spelling Bee enrollment period begins August 22, 2022.  GAE will end enrollment as of December 31, 2022.  For students to be eligible to compete in the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee, their schools/home schools must be enrolled, and they must have paid the Scripps’ enrollment fee by the deadline of December 31, 2022. The enrollment fee is $175 / $120 for Schools  and Home School Associations / Single Family Homeschools, respectively. You can enroll online with Scripps at www.spellingbee.com.  If you enroll by September 15, 2022, you will receive a prize code from Encyclopedia Britannica.

To ensure a successful local spelling bee, it is important for you to utilize the products and resources described in the Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (PRR) on page 31and to follow the GAE official procedures, rules, and regulations for spelling bees, which are listed on pages 7-12.  NOTE: According to Scripps, their spelling bee rules apply only to the competition at the national level; therefore, please refer to Georgia’s rules in this PRR.

Please note that we are continuing to emphasize the need to implement a minimum of one vocabulary round at both your school and county bees and spell-offs.  Vocabulary has now become an equal factor in how far state representatives advance at nationals.  Remember, schools can access  vocabulary and spelling resources via their Scripps’ registration that can then be shared with participating contestants.  GAE will be implementing vocabulary rounds at both the region and state levels.  We feel our students must begin to learn their vocabulary as well as the actual dynamics of spelling (rather than just simple rote word memorization).

The spelling bee consultants/committee and I hope you have a great year planning and implementing your bee!

HAPPY  S-P-E-L-L-I-N-G!
Susan Tallant, Chair
GAE State Spelling Bee Committee