Florida requires children to learn cursive writing: here’s how they will have to demonstrate it

Florida will require public school students to learn cursive writing and demonstrate proficiency as part of a new education law that will take effect on July 1 and will begin to be implemented during the 2026-2027 school year, reported the channel News4JAX.

The legislation was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on April 20. The requirement for cursive writing is part of Bill SB 182, which was unanimously approved by the state Senate on March 13.

The new regulation establishes that students from third to fifth grade must receive formal instruction in cursive writing, with an emphasis on the correct formation of letters, spacing, alignment, and practice using complete words and sentences.

One of the most significant changes is that by the end of fifth grade, students will need to demonstrate mastery of this skill. To do so, they will have to write in italics all the uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet, compose legible words and sentences with proper spacing and alignment, as well as read and use this type of writing in assignments and school essays.

Although the law does not require it, it does encourage the State Board of Education to develop specific standards and assessments to measure compliance with these requirements.

Cursive writing has had a changing trajectory in Florida's educational system. It was removed from state standards in 2010 with the adoption of the Common Core program, which placed greater emphasis on technological tools. Four years later, it was reintroduced through an administrative rule, and since 2020, it has been part of the B.E.S.T. English Language Arts standards for grades three to five. However, until now, there has been no requirement for students to demonstrate effective proficiency in this skill.

Proponents of SB 182 argue that handwriting enhances learning. Various studies in neuroscience support this thesis by indicating that writing in cursive activates brain circuits related to language, memory, and learning in a way that is different from typing.

The legislation also includes other measures. Among them is the mandatory display of portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in all classrooms from kindergarten to fifth grade, as well as the creation of a Teacher Tutoring and Mentoring Program aimed at strengthening schools with grades of "D" or "F." The program will allow retired or active teachers with at least three years of experience and a rating of "highly effective" to mentor other educators and receive stipends of up to $3,000.

Florida is not the only state that has reinstated the teaching of cursive writing. Currently, more than half of the states in the country require or promote it in their schools, compared to just 14 that did so a decade ago. California reinstated it for the 2024-2025 school year for grades one to six, while Michigan passed similar legislation in 2023.

The measure is part of the educational agenda promoted by DeSantis, who in recent years has also advocated for the , the expansion of the armed guardians program in schools, and other initiatives aimed, according to the state administration, at strengthening basic skills and traditional values in public education.