General Rules

General Rules:​

• Each school may bring an unlimited number of competitors in grades 7-12. Three of these students should participate as delegates at the Business Meeting, and four must participate in the Sergeant-at-Arms program. If a school brings more than 25 students, they must add an additional student (5 total) to assist in the Seargeant-at-Arms program.

• A student may participate in both an individual and team competition, but NO STUDENT MAY COMPETE IN MORE THAN ONE INDIVIDUAL COMPETITION (Lecture, Déclamation, or Discours).

• Effective 2024: All scores from Lecture and Déclamation will count.  ​

• A student must enter a competition at or above the level in which (s)he is currently enrolled in school. No student may enter in a level lower than the one in which (s)he is currently enrolled. Doing so will result in disqualification of the student

• Only students enrolled in French classes at their school may attend Congrès with the exception of the following situation: A student enrolled in a block, trimester, or multi tracking system who is not enrolled in French at the same time of Congrès but has completed a course requirement during the same school year shall be eligible to compete in Congrès. A student in a 4x4 block schedule who took French first semester but was unable to take it second semester shall compete at the level of the first semester course.

• Students who meet the following criteria will be placed in the "F" category (1F, 2F, 3F, 4F, 5F, and COF):

  • ​The student is a native speaker of French

  • The student attended or attends a school where the primary language of instruction was/is French after age 12

  • The student spent one to four semesters in a school where the language of instruction was French between the ages of eight and twelve

  • The student has completed an FLES program in French prior to high school or middle school

  • Between his/her eighth and twelfth birthday, the student lived in a French-speaking country for one year or more

  • The student has not attended a French speaking school, but his/her parent(s) or guardian speaks French all or most of the time

  • The student has had consistent and repeated exposure to the French language outside the academic setting (i.e. summer vacation, church, etc.)

 

COA (Classe Ouverte Américaine-Level 5 or Above):

• The student is enrolled in French classes, but has had no significant French training outside the classroom

​

Congrès Rules:

• If a student must withdraw from a competition after his/her registration fee has been paid, the school may substitute another student. Under no circumstances are fees refundable.

• Competitors must observe time limits set in all events. All contestants will be stopped at the expiration of the time limit.

• In all events, the decision of the judges is final.

• Please uphold the standards of behavior and dress code set forth by your school and/or school district.

• Florida state laws require a minimum of one adult chaperone for every ten students or fraction thereof.

• Our CCFF constitution requires that at least one teacher at the participating school be a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).