Yes!
While students do not need to master handwriting while they are learning to read, it is beneficial to include handwriting instruction as a kinesthetic component of learning to read and recognize the letters. The research indicates that learning about how to physically form each letter while learning to read it helps students learn to recognize the letters more quickly, paving the way for stronger reading skills.
To learn more about why we use this approach in Logic of English curriculum, see Why teach handwriting and reading together?