HB218 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Dickie Drake
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Education, public elementary school, instruction in handwriting, cursive writing by end of third grade year, Sec. 16-6B-2 am'd.
Summary: Lexi's Law requires public elementary schools in Alabama to teach cursive handwriting to students by the end of the third grade.
What This Bill Does
HB218 amends the handwriting instruction rule to require cursive writing by the end of the third grade. It directs the State Board of Education to ensure the elementary curriculum includes handwriting with cursive so students can produce legible cursive documents. The changes apply to all public elementary schools in the state and become effective on the first day of the third month after passage/approval (around August 2016).

Who It Affects
Public elementary school students in Alabama will be required to learn cursive handwriting by the end of third grade.
Local boards of education and teachers must implement the updated handwriting instruction and ensure curriculum includes cursive handwriting.

Key Provisions
Handwriting instruction shall include cursive writing and ensure legible cursive handwriting by the end of the third grade.
State Board of Education must adopt minimum elementary school course contents that require handwriting with cursive and oversee its implementation; Lexi's Law becomes effective on the first day of the third month after signing.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Schools