HB270 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Public schools, cursive writing, requiring each senior to legibly print and sign his or her own name in cursive, graduation requirement, Sec. 16-6B-2 am'd.

Summary

HB270 would require public high school seniors to legibly print and sign their own name in cursive as a graduation requirement.

What This Bill Does

It changes the high school graduation rules to add a mandatory cursive-name printing and signing requirement for seniors. It also reinforces handwriting education in K-12, establishing that students should learn cursive by the end of the third grade and be able to print and sign their names in cursive for graduation. Local boards of education must annually certify compliance with the cursive requirement, and the State Board of Education may issue rules to enforce it. The measure takes effect immediately after it is signed into law.

Who It Affects

• Public high school seniors who must legibly print and sign their names in cursive to graduate.
• Local boards of education and the Alabama State Board of Education, which must implement, oversee, and certify compliance with the cursive writing requirement.

Key Provisions

• Adds graduation requirement: public high school seniors must legibly print and sign their own name in cursive to graduate.
• Local boards of education must annually certify that applicable schools meet the cursive writing requirements; the State Board of Education may adopt rules to implement the provision.
• In elementary education, handwriting instruction must include cursive writing so students can write in cursive by the end of the third grade and be able to legibly print and sign their names in cursive for high school graduation.
• Effective date: the act becomes law immediately following passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Public Schools