Lawmakers refile bill to require cursive proficiency for elementary school students

Some of America’s formative documents were penned in a format that today’s youth may find indecipherable.

That’s a shame, and it should be addressed, according to Republican lawmakers who are again carrying legislation to require elementary school students to learn how to read and write cursive.

Very Beach Sen. Erin Grall and Republican Reps. Toby Overdorf of Palm City and Dana Trabulsy of Fort Pierce have filed twin bills (SB 444, HB 127) to mandate cursive instruction in grades two through five.

The instruction must include lessons on letter formation, proper spacing and alignment, and practice writing complete words and sentences in cursive.

By the end of fifth grade, each student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive, writing legibly in upper- and lower-case and being able to read script.

This is the second straight year Grall and Overdorf have sponsored the cursive legislation. Last year, a version Overdorf carried with co-sponsorship support from Republican Reps. Jim Mooney of Islamorada and Susan Valdés of Tampa passed in the House, drawing nothing but “yes” votes at every stop in the chamber.

The Senate version died unheard. Its first stop was to be the Senate Committee on Education Pre-K – 12, which Tallahassee Republican Sen. Corey Simon chairs.

Twenty-four U.S. states require schools to teach cursive, according to a November 2024 report from Education Week, which credited a 10-state uptick over the past decade as state lawmakers and historians push for its return to standard curricula.

The prevalence of cursive instruction in public schools began to decline in the mid-2010s after most states adopted the Common Core Standard, which intentionally omitted the form of handwriting while emphasizing digital literacy and keyboarding over penmanship.

Overdorf noted the historical relevance of the writing style on the House floor in March, calling it a “rocket boost for sharp minds and a ticket to adult independence.”

“In a world glued to screens, cursive isn’t just handwriting. It’s a master key to our past,” he said. “Without it, kids can’t read the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, a grandparent’s note, or even sign their name on a mortgage with pride. … This isn’t nostalgia. It’s about empowering them to claim their heritage, unleash their potential, and step into life’s big moments with a signature that’s all their own.”

SB 444 or HB 127, if passed, would go into effect July 1, 2026.

Florida Politics contacted Grall and Overdorf for comment, but did not receive an immediate response. This report will be updated.