
ARIZONA SPELLING BEE
The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF®) hosts the annual Arizona Spelling Bee, a showdown pitting Arizona's top 27 spellers from across the state in a spectacle of spelling sport!
AEF has served as the sponsor of the Arizona Spelling Bee system since 2001. The Arizona Spelling Bee Champion goes on to represent the State of Arizona in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
Spelling Bees are a great American tradition that help students improve oral and written literacy skills and build self-confidence. Each year, over 200,000 Arizona students participate in Bees that begin in classrooms, take over schools, advance to districts, and then on to regional and county qualifiers.

2023 AZ SPELLING BEE EVENT DETAILS
DATE: March 18, 2023
LOCATION: Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N 16th St, Phoenix, AZ 85016
SCHEDULE: Student registration opens at 9:30am. All spellers must be onstage by 10:00am for dress rehearsal. Spelling Bee start time is 10:30am.
BEE STRUCTURE & RULES: The Arizona State Spelling Bee is an in-person spelling bee following all of the rules and procedures dictated by the Scripps National Spelling Bee rules.
ATTENDANCE POLICIES: The Arizona Spelling Bee will not be open to the general public. Each speller will be allowed to bring up to six guests with them. AEF does not recommend bringing small children to the spelling bee. In order to protect each speller's ability to compete undistracted, all attendees must be able to remain silent during competition.
MASK GUIDELINES: The Madison Center for the Arts requires all attendees be masked. Spellers will be allowed to remove their masks when stepping up to the microphone to spell.
The Arizona Spelling Bee Process & General Information
AZ Bee Basics is the essential resource for all important bee information including rules and procedures.
Visit the Bee Coordinator HQ if you're a school, district, or county level coordinator for resources and information.
View the amazing Arizona State Spelling Bee Champions!
A recorded copy of the Spelling Bee is made available on AEF's Youtube channel the week following the bee.
ARIZONA SPELLING BEE | AEF® STAFF CONTACT
Dr. Teresa Hill, AEF® Deputy Director | 520-591-0972 | teresa@azedfoundation.org