The Georgia Department of Education is celebrating Constitution Week by recognizing 630 schools for their commitment to cursive instruction, distributing pocket Constitutions to Georgia students, and encouraging schools and districts to continue commemorating America's 250th anniversary throughout the 2026-2027 school year.

GaDOE will begin presenting John Hancock Award banners to schools during Constitution Week, observed September 17-23. The award honors elementary, middle, and high schools whose students demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing. This skill supports literacy and writing fluency while enabling students to read historic documents in their original form.

During the 2025-2026 school year, 630 schools earned John Hancock recognition. Of those, 323 schools received the John Hancock Banner and Ribbon of Distinction, while 307 schools earned the John Hancock Banner and Proficiency Ribbon.

"Constitution Week allows our students to engage directly with the words, ideas, and principles that shape our nation," State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. "Through the John Hancock Award, the distribution of pocket Constitutions, and the thoughtful celebrations taking place in schools and communities, we are helping students understand that our founding documents are not simply pieces of history — they remain central to our identity as Americans. I am proud of the schools and educators bringing that history to life for Georgia students."

Pocket Constitutions redesigned for America's 250th anniversary

In conjunction with Constitution Week, GaDOE is distributing pocket-sized copies of the U.S. Constitution to fourth-grade students throughout the state. The copies are printed using funds from the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, and no taxpayer dollars are used.

This year's pocket Constitutions were redesigned to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, giving Georgia students a commemorative resource they can use to study the nation's founding principles and better understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

A downloadable PDF version of the newly redesigned pocket Constitution is available online.

Georgia Schools Commemorate America's 250th Anniversary

Schools across Georgia have commemorated America's 250th anniversary with activities that connect history, literacy, the arts, and community engagement. Atlanta Classical Academy hosted a Fine Arts production that let students actively help tell America's story, while Burdell-Hunt Elementary Magnet School in the Bibb County School District encouraged students to celebrate the anniversary "one book at a time" through an America 250 reading challenge. At Allatoona High School in the Cobb County School District, students, educators, and community members brought the nation's history to life through an interdisciplinary program incorporating history, music, and community participation.

GaDOE encourages schools and districts to build on these efforts throughout the 2026-2027 school year through classroom lessons, performances, art and writing projects, readings of founding documents, community partnerships, and other activities that deepen students' understanding of American history and civic responsibility.

"America's 250th anniversary is not limited to a single day — it offers an opportunity for students to explore our nation's history throughout the year and consider their own role in its future," Superintendent Woods said. "I encourage Georgia's schools to continue creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, reflect, participate, and celebrate."

Recognizing Cursive Proficiency

The John Hancock Award recognizes schools at two levels based on demonstrated student proficiency.

Schools where at least 90% of students can write their names in cursive earn the John Hancock Banner and Proficiency Ribbon. Schools where at least 90% of students can write both their names and the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution in cursive earn the John Hancock Banner and Ribbon of Distinction.

To demonstrate proficiency, schools submit representative samples of students' cursive writing and attest that at least 90% of their students meet the requirements for the recognition level they seek.

Cursive writing is included in Georgia's English Language Arts standards as part of the state's commitment to developing strong, confident readers and writers. Cursive instruction supports students by developing fine motor skills, strengthening spelling and writing fluency, supporting memory and cognitive development, and allowing students to develop a distinctive personal signature.

"Cursive writing is about much more than penmanship — it supports the development of skills students use throughout their learning," said Dr. April Aldridge, GaDOE Deputy Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. "It also gives students the ability to encounter documents like the U.S. Constitution as they were originally written, creating a tangible connection between literacy, history, and civic understanding. We are proud of the Georgia educators who continue to provide students with these important learning opportunities."

Apply for the 2026-2027 John Hancock Award

Georgia schools can earn John Hancock Award recognition during the 2026-2027 school year by demonstrating their students' proficiency in cursive writing.

Applications for the 2026-2027 John Hancock Award will open October 1, 2026, and close June 1, 2027. Schools can learn more about award requirements, recognition levels, and how to apply by visiting the John Hancock Award webpage.