FSE Delaware Spelling Bee registration due Dec. 7

First State Educate has expanded its spelling bee program by teaming with the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

FSE will become a regional partner and the statewide sponsor for Delaware. This means champions from Delaware schools enrolled in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee will advance to a 2025 regional bee hosted by FSE, competing for a chance to advance to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, a world-renowned televised event.

For Delaware students in grades four through six, whose school cannot not enroll in the Scripps National Spelling Bee program, FSE will hold the Delaware Spelling Bee, giving First State spellers who wish to participate the opportunity to do so. FSE’s partners for the 2025 FSE Delaware Spelling Bee include the United Way of Delaware, the City of Wilmington’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and the International Literacy Association. The top three spellers from the 2025 FSE Delaware Spelling Bee may qualify to join the school-specific champions in the 2025 regional bee. The 2025 regional champion can then advance to the 2025 national spelling bee.

“We believe spelling bees foster a love for language, can ignite a passion for academic excellence, and [help] build confidence. Every student should have the opportunity to participate, no matter if their school is able to or not,” said Julia Keleher, FSE chief strategy and operations officer. “We are thrilled to expand this 100-year-old educational program to reach more students across Delaware and look forward to watching Delaware’s students shine.”

The FSE Delaware Spelling Bee will be held Saturday, Feb. 1, in Dover. The regional bee will be held Saturday, March 8, in Dover.

To find more information for schools, go to spellingbee.com/enrollment. Scripps Spelling Bee provides the resources local schools need to run a spelling bee.

Parents and guardians of students who wish to participate but attend schools that cannot enroll in the Scripps Spelling Bee program should go to firststateeducate.org/spelling-bee-signup.

Registration closes Saturday, Dec. 7, or when the program reaches 60 participants.

The winner of the 2025 Regional Bee will compete on the national stage at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee in May near Washington, D.C.