Information and Instructions for the 2024-25 GAE Spelling Bee

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 and runner-up advancing to the Scripps National Spelling Bee (SNSB).

This school year, the SNSB enrollment period begins August 20, 2024.  Early Bird School Enrollment Fee is $185/$120/$185 (Schools/Single Family Homeschools/Coop-Homeschool Associations) from now until October 31, 2024.  Beginning November 1, 2024, the fee is $199/$139/$199 (Schools/Single Family Homeschools/Coop-Homeschool Associations) through the end of the enrolment period.  

GAE will end enrollment as of December 31, 2024. For students to be eligible to compete in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee, their schools/homeschools must be enrolled and have paid the Scripps’ enrollment fee by Georgia’s deadline of December 31, 2024.  (NOTE: for planning purposes, Georgia’s registration closes Dec. 31, 2024. This is before Scripps, which is Jan. 31, 2025).  You can enroll online with Scripps at www.spellingbee.com.  In addition, if enrolled by September 30, 2024, 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 accessible at https://tinyurl.com/order-GAE-Bee-Items and to follow the GAE official procedures, rules, and regulations for spelling bees, which are listed on pages 7-12. To access Georgia’s State Spelling Bee Procedures, Rules, and Regulations (PRR) go to http://www.gae.org/spellingbee. NOTE: According to Scripps, its spelling bee rules apply only to the competition at the national level; therefore, please refer to Georgia’s rules in GAE’s 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 is 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 is also providing resource links at www.gae.org/spellingbee.  GAE  implements 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

The GAE membership would like to congratulate Georgia's Spelling Bee Champion Sarv Dharavane and Runner-up Matthew Baber on their excellent efforts at the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship. Sarv made it to round 6 and tied for 22nd and Matthew made it to round 4 and tied for 60th. Matthew has now aged out but we expect to see Sarv back next year!

GAE Bee Information

Bee Study Resources

The GAE Spelling Bee Committee does not furnish any practice list of words to use for your speller. The ultimate recommended guide is using Webster’s 3^rd New Unabridged Online International Dictionary as a study reference (http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/).   Your school can access any Scripps study material once it has enrolled and has the receipt of the enrollment fee.  Those materials may be downloaded and printed for the school winner for ongoing study.

For additional popular study sites search the internet for Bee study resources.