Generally a city or town holds a local Spelling Bee some time during the winter, at which time the District Winner, as well as an Alternate (2nd place winner) is selected. (“District” is the word for a city or town.) The District Bee must only include students from paid and registered schools! No student from an unregistered and unpaid school may participate in the State Spelling Bee. These are National Spelling Bee rules, and cannot be altered. Remember, the Deadline to participate is Jan. 31, 2024, and no school may register after that date, no matter the circumstances. The Valley Breeze cannot intercede on your behalf after registrations are closed.

   Generally, registered public schools hold in-school Spelling Bees to select a school winner, and send school winners to a District Spelling Bee to select the District Winner. (“District” is the word for a city or town.) When Districts have a winner, they register them with the R.I. State Spelling Bee. 

   Generally, persons affiliated with Independent Schools gather students from registered and paid Independent Schools for an Independent School Spelling Bee, at which time a winner and alternate is selected and registered with the State Spelling Bee. 

   Customarily, several registered state Catholic Schools participate in two Bees; one North and one South. These local Bees are scheduled by the Superintendent’s office for the Diocese of Providence ( catholicschools.org ). Two to three winners and alternates are selected, and registered with the State Spelling Bee. 

   Leaders in the state Home School association are welcome to make one registration payment to register Home Schools. Home School parents then gather students for a Home Schoolers Bee to select the winner and alternate for the State Spelling Bee.

   Up to 8 registered Charter Schools/Mayoral Academies combined may send one participant to the State Spelling Bee as a charter school representative. Charters/Mayoral Academies will host their own Spelling Bee to select a winner. The Valley Breeze will make no distinction between a Charter School or Mayoral Academy.