The purpose of the bee is to improve the children's spelling. This is done by conducting bees for children in grades 1-8. These bees are conducted at local sites nearby where the children live. Any community may conduct the bees and are assisted by the American Spelling Bee which provides materials and technical assistance. Any community may make a request to conduct one or more different-grade spelling bees for children at its school or for any other organized group.

The first step is completing a Site Application which can be printed from this site. Any selected grades must be inclusive of grades 1-8. There must be a minimum of 10 contestants from each grade. The site comittee may be comprised of a group of 4-20 people. The Site Application details the responsibilities of the American Spelling Bee and those of the local site committee.

After the Site Application has been completed and sent, the Contestant Application(s) must also be completed and sent. Contestant Application(s) may be printed from this site. Those who do not have access to the internet may send a long, self-addressed stamped envelope, requestingan application giving the name(s) and grade(s) of the child(ren). The request must be sent to the American Spelling Bee. 25 Capitol Street. Auburn NY 13021-2831. Failure to send an envelope which is not self-addressed or stamped will result in an application NOT being sent. After all contestant applications from a specific locale site have been received, a spelling bee booklet will be sent to each contestant approximately 60 days before their local bee is scheduled. The spelling bee booklet will contain words to be learned, spelling tips, directions to the site, and other valuable information.

On the day of the bee which has at least 20 contestants, the parent of the winner must fill out a request for the bond giving the childs name, address, social security number (The US Treasury Department will not issue a bond unless the social security number is included) and the name of the beneficiary (not the contestant's name). Each of the five trophy-winner's parents must submit a photo (head photos only). The forms and envelopes for the bond and the photos will be given by member of the site committee and sent to the American Spelling Bee office. The bonds will be sent to each respective family within 30 days, and the photos will be sent to the local newspapers. If a parent wishes to retain their child's photo, they must personally contact their newspaper.