Contest Rules of the 76th Annual
Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.

1. Students participating in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., must qualify under nine requirements:

(1) they must not have passed beyond the eighth grade on or before February 1, 2003;

(2) they must not have reached their 16th birthday on or before the date of the national finals, May 28, 2003;

(3) they, their parents, educators, relatives, or acquaintances must not have obtained a copy of the 2003 School Pronouncer Guide for use in studying;

(4) they must not have spelled in their final local spelling bee any words that appear in the 2003 School Pronouncer Guide;

(5) they must not have won their final local spelling bee before February 1, 2003;

(6) they must not have been disqualified at any level of any sponsor's spelling bee program between June 2002 and April 2003;

(7) they must not have eschewed normal school activity in favor of preparation for spelling bees;

(8) they must not have been declared the champion of any previous Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C.; and

(9) they must be the individual champion (last one standing) of a sponsor's final spelling bee.