2026-27 Season
Journeys of Transformation: An Exploration of Travel and Transportation

Welcome to the 2026-2027 season of PA Academic Decathlon! Before you can compete with your respective region in the regular season (Round 1) or regionals (Round 2), your teams must be registered with PAAD as a competing team in the state. These steps must be completed prior to your first competition.

PAAD Preseason Coaches' Meeting - September 3, 3:30-4:15 PM

Link will be emailed to PAAD Coaches from the 2025-26 school year and any schools that have expressed an interest in PAAD competition by September 1st.

Immediately after - PAAD Fall Board Meeting

Team Registration (please complete all steps by October 1st)

STEP 1: Read the Welcome Letter from PAAD. 

STEP 2: Complete registration and payment on competition.usad.org - select "PA Academic Decathlon Annual Registration."
Central PA - you can find an additional registration fee for CPAD under "Additional Purchase Options". Use this to also pay for your regional fee.

Electronic payment on the competition platform is preferred. If your school must use a check or needs it, please use this invoice. 

You will have to create an account if you did not participate in a national competition last year. Please register for an account even if you are using the grant this year.

If you are a team that has not participated since 2025, this mandatory state participation fee is waived for 3 years, and you get free materials for your first year of participation and half-priced materials for your second year. You are still required to complete the rest of the PAAD registration steps. 

There are also a limited number of $500 new coach stipends available for first-time coaches who do not have a stipend paid by their school for Academic Decathlon.

NEW COACH STIPEND APPLICATION
NEW COACH STIPEND REGULATIONS

STEP 3: Send the USAD Enrollment Form to your principal and registrar. Once it has been returned to you and signed by your registrar and principal, email the form to Phil Cerami (phil@pa-ad.org). In the past, this form has been due after December 1st. This year, we are asking that it be submitted with your initial paperwork and due October 1.

STEP 4: Go to your respective Regional Page to complete registration with your local region, as procedures and registration will be different for each region. If you do not know which region you are in, see the Regional Map.

CENTRAL PA ACADEMIC DECATHLON
EASTERN PA ACADEMIC DECATHLON
WESTERN PA ACADEMIC DECATHLON

PAAD Competition Rules

Guidelines and Rules/Code of Conduct (being revised)
Scoring Explanation
Interview Procedures
Resume Samples
Interview Rubric
Speech Procedures
Speech Rubric
PAAD Online Essay Instructions
Essay Scoring PowerPoint
Essay Scoring Rubric
Super Quiz Relay Procedures
Super Quiz Relay Team Answer Sheet
USAD GPA Eligibility and Instructions
ZipGrade Rubric Sheet
Procedures for Team and National Advancement
Accommodations Form
Essay Writing Do's and Don'ts