Bee Qualification Structure

Level One: Individual School Nominees
Students must be nominated to represent their school before progressing to the County Bee. This may be done in one of the following ways:

Individual classrooms may hold bees to determine bee participants;
Teachers may nominate students;
A school-wide meeting can be held during lunch or after school to gauge student interest.

School finalists will each receive a copy of the 2002 Paideia Word Book as a study reference for county, regional, and national bees.

Level Two: County Bee
Each school district within a county may nominate seven finalists - six plus one alternate - to attend the County Bee. Six finalists will compete to attend the Regional Bee. The alternate should attend the County Bee in the event of one of the other six are unable to attend.

Level Three: Regional Bee
Each county may nominate eight finalists - seven plus one alternate - to attend the Regional Bee. The winner of the Regional Bee will be sent to the National Bee in Washington, D.C.

Level Four: National Bee
The winner of the Regional Bee will be sent to participate in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. The Record-Eagle will pay full expenses for the student and one parent or guardian to attend.