--- title: HB 580. Georgia Penmanship Act; enact collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb580 cite_as: HB 580, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb580 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb580.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb580/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70668 date: 2025-02-26 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb579.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb581.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 129 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb580.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 580 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-02-21 last_action: House Second Readers sponsors: - Imani Barnes - Derrick Jackson - Karla Drenner - Lydia Glaize - Phil Olaleye - David Wilkerson text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB580/2025 upstream_id: 1980023 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - cursive writing - public schools - education curriculum - Quality Basic Education Act - State Board of Education --- # HB 580. Georgia Penmanship Act; enact ## Text House Bill 580 By: Representatives Barnes of the 86th, Jackson of the 68th, Drenner of the 85th, Glaize of the 67th, Olaleye of the 59th, and others A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," so as to require local boards of education to provide instruction in cursive writing; to require the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for instruction in cursive writing and to determine the appropriate grade levels for such instruction; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA: SECTION 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Penmanship Act." SECTION 2. Part 2 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to competencies and core curriculum under the "Quality Basic Education Act," is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows: "20-2-140.2. (a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, each local board of education shall provide instruction in cursive writing for such grades and grade levels as shall be determined by the State Board of Education, which instruction may be incorporated into an existing course of study. (b) No later than January 1, 2026, the State Board of Education shall adopt content standards for such instruction in cursive writing and shall determine the appropriate grades and grade levels for such instruction." SECTION 3. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. House Bill 580, the Georgia Penmanship Act, would require local school boards to teach cursive writing starting in the 2026-2027 school year, once the State Board of Education sets standards for it. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law currently does not require public schools to teach cursive handwriting. This bill, called the Georgia Penmanship Act, would change that by adding a new section to the state's education code (O.C.G.A. ยง 20-2-140.2) under the Quality Basic Education Act. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, every local board of education in Georgia would have to provide instruction in cursive writing. Schools could fold this instruction into an existing class rather than create a brand new course. The State Board of Education would be responsible for two things: writing the content standards that describe what students should learn, and deciding which grades or grade levels must receive the instruction. The bill sets a deadline of January 1, 2026 for the State Board to finish that work, giving schools time to prepare before the teaching requirement begins. ### What it does - Adds a new section to Georgia's Quality Basic Education Act requiring local school boards to teach cursive writing beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. - Lets schools incorporate cursive instruction into an existing course rather than requiring a separate class. - Requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards for cursive writing instruction by January 1, 2026. - Directs the State Board of Education to determine which grades or grade levels must receive the cursive instruction. - Gives the new law an official short title, the 'Georgia Penmanship Act.' ### Who it affects Public school students and teachers across Georgia, especially in the elementary grades where handwriting instruction typically occurs, local boards of education that must add cursive to their curriculum, and the State Board of Education, which must write standards and set grade levels. ### Why it matters If enacted, Georgia students would be guaranteed cursive handwriting instruction that many schools have dropped in recent years as digital typing became more common in classrooms. Local districts would need to adjust lesson plans and teacher training once the state sets standards and grade levels. ### Key provisions - 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 allows cursive instruction to be incorporated into an existing course rather than requiring a standalone class. - Section 2 requires the State Board of Education to adopt content standards and determine appropriate grade levels no later than January 1, 2026. - Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-21) - Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-26) - Sponsors: Imani Barnes, Derrick Jackson, Karla Drenner, Lydia Glaize, Phil Olaleye, David Wilkerson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70668 > The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb580.md?full=1