HB580: HB580 Georgia Penmanship Act; enact

Currently Georgia law does not require schools to teach cursive writing. This bill, called the Georgia Penmanship Act, would change that by adding a new section to the state's education law (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-140.2). Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, every local board of education in Georgia would have to provide instruction in cursive writing. The instruction could be folded into an existing class rather than requiring a brand new course. Before that happens, the State Board of Education must act first: by January 1, 2026, it has to write content standards for cursive instruction and decide which grades or grade levels will receive it.

• Adds a new requirement to Georgia's education code (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-140.2) that local school boards teach cursive writing starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
• Allows local boards to fold cursive instruction into an already existing course rather than creating a standalone class.
• Requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for cursive instruction no later than January 1, 2026.
• Requires the State Board of Education to determine which grades and grade levels must receive cursive instruction.
• Gives the law a short title, the 'Georgia Penmanship Act,' and repeals any conflicting laws.

Local boards of education across Georgia, which must add cursive instruction to their curricula; the State Board of Education, which must write standards and pick grade levels; and public school students and teachers, who will be affected by the new instruction requirement.

If enacted, Georgia public school students would receive formal cursive handwriting instruction that is not currently guaranteed statewide. Local districts would need to adjust curricula and teacher time starting in the 2026-2027 school year to meet the new requirement.

• Section 1 gives the bill its short title, the 'Georgia Penmanship Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code section 20-2-140.2, requiring local boards of education to teach cursive writing beginning in the 2026-2027 school year.
• Section 2 also lets districts incorporate cursive instruction into an existing course rather than adding a new one.
• Section 2 requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards and determine appropriate grade levels by January 1, 2026.
• Section 3 repeals any existing laws that conflict with the new requirement.

1. 2025-02-26House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-24House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-21House Hopper (House)

• Imani Barnes (D, HD-086)Primary sponsor
• Derrick Jackson (D, HD-068)
• Karla Drenner (D, HD-085)
• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)
• Phil Olaleye (D, HD-059)
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)

• cursive writing
• public education
• school curriculum
• Georgia schools
• education standards