Cursive Handwriting Coming Back to Public Schools as New Jersey Joins Host of States Mandating Its Teaching

New Jersey has joined two dozen states to officially require cursive writing instruction for grades three through five in all public schools.With computers everywhere, young people have fallen behind in their penmanship skills. But Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill into law just before leaving office this week declaring that all children will learn the writing form.“The return to including cursive instruction is especially meaningful as New Jersey celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of our country’s founding – giving our students the skills they need to read our nation’s founding documents and complete tasks like opening a bank account or signing a check, in addition to offering cognitive benefits,” Mr. Murphy said in a press release.“We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” he added.Senator Angela McKnight, who co-sponsored the bill, said the law will help children. “Not only does handwriting instruction encourage better retention and comprehension of information, but it also allows our students to build self-confidence and maintain a vital connection to written communication in the increasingly digital age,” Ms. McKnight said in a statement.The new law will go into effect this fall at the beginning of the new 2026-2027 school year. Cursive instruction had been deemed an optional endeavor in 2010 when the state adopted new standards. Cursive writing is making a bit of a comeback. After the new standards were put in place in 2010, just 10 states mandated cursive instruction. With New Jersey now on board, there are now 25 states that mandate cursive to be taught in public schools.Pennsylvania lawmakers are also mulling a requirement for children to learn cursive writing, with one lawmaker saying recent studies show writing in script stimulates brain regions linked to memory and thinking, while also developing motor skills.“In an increasingly digital world, cursive has fallen by the wayside,” state Representative Sane Watro said. “However, there are compelling cognitive, developmental, and practical reasons for ensuring students have at least a basic grasp of cursive writing.”

Cursive Handwriting Coming Back to Public Schools as New Jersey Joins Host of States Mandating Its Teaching

Cursive Handwriting Coming Back to Public Schools as New Jersey Joins Host of States Mandating Its Teaching

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