CMS students Richard Hawks (left) and Melanie Valle (right) practice their cursive writing skills.
All four Carrollton City Schools have been recognized by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) for their writing achievements, specifically demonstrating excellence in cursive instruction and fluency and will be honored as John Hancock Award schools, receiving banners and ribbons from the state.
A goal of the GaDOE is to emphasize that cursive writing strengthens student confidence, connects learners to history, and supports essential cognitive development. This award celebrates schools that go above and beyond in teaching cursive writing – a skill that builds fine motor strength, enhances literacy, and allows students to engage meaningfully with historical texts in their original form.
Schools are recognized based on the cursive proficiency of their students. Carrollton Middle School and Carrollton High School earned the school of distinction status with 90% of students being able to write both their names and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution in cursive, while the lower schools were deemed schools of proficiency, in alignment with their skills at that level, with at least 90% of students writing their names in cursive.
“I’m proud of the hard work our students and staff put in to earn this distinction,” said CCS Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Dr. Kylie Carroll. “This honor from the Georgia Department of Education reflects our ongoing dedication to foundational literacy and equipping every student with skills that serve them for a lifetime.”
As part of Georgia’s English Language Arts (ELA) standards, cursive writing plays a vital role in preparing students for academic success and lifelong learning. The GaDOE will begin presenting awards to schools to celebrate Constitution Week, taking place September 17-23.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods is a former classroom teacher, and he sees cursive as a vital writing skill that connects students, with the goal of “helping students understand that our founding documents are not simply pieces of history — they remain central to our identity as Americans.”
Author: Jamie Tuggle
