Information and Instructions for the 2026-27 GAE Spelling Bee

Dear Spelling Bee Coordinator:

The Georgia State 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 they will have the opportunity to advance to the regional 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 18, 2026. The school enrollment fee is $199 from August 18, 2026 to November 30, 2026 for schools/single family homeschools/co-op-homeschool associations). From December 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026, the price is $225. 

Again, GAE will end enrollment for Georgia on December 31, 2026. (NOTE: This is before Scripps, which is January 29, 2027). For students to be eligible to compete in the 2027 Scripps National Spelling Bee, their schools/homeschools must be enrolled and have paid the Scripps’ enrollment fee by the Georgia deadline. You can enroll online with Scripps at www.spellingbee.com. 

To ensure a successful local spelling bee, it is important for you to utilize the products and resources accessible at https://tinyurl.com/OrderBeeProducts and to follow the GAE official procedures, rules, and regulations for Georgia spelling bees, which are listed on pages 7-12. To access Georgia’s State Spelling Bee Procedures, Rules, and Regulations manual (PRR), click on the link above

IMPORTANT: According to Scripps, its spelling bee rules apply only to the competition at the national level; therefore, please refer to Georgia’s rules in the Georgia PRR. 

Please note that because vocabulary is an integral component at the national level, GAE continues to emphasize the implementation of a minimum of one vocabulary round at both your school and system bees and/or spell-offs. Vocabulary is an equal factor in how far our state representatives advance at nationals. 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).

Remember, schools can access vocabulary and spelling resources via their Scripps’ registration that can then be shared with participating contestants. 

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! 
April Swain, Chair 
GAE State Spelling Bee Committee 

Congratulations to Sarv and Sreeya for representing Georgia so well at the Scripps National Bee.  

Georgia’s Spelling Champion Repeats As Third Best Speller in the Nation

The GAE membership would like to congratulate Georgia's Spelling Bee Champion Sarv Dharavane and Runner-up Sreeya Lakkimsetti on their success at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee last May! 

Sarv Dharavane Three-peats as state spelling champion

GAE Bee Information

Spelling Bee Questions?

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.