Florida School Kids Will Have To Learn Cursive If This Bill Passes

Instruction hasn't been required under law since 2010 and currently cursive comprehension isn't taught in schools. But House bill co-sponsor Rep. Toby Overdorf, R-Palm City, thinks it's time to revive the writing style. "Being able to read our history, whether it be the Declaration of Independence or the U.S. Constitution or a letter from a grandparent, being able to see history is critically important, and not look at it like it's code and some kind of ancient Sanskrit," Overdorf said.

Students would learn "letter formation," "proper spacing and alignment," and "writing complete words and sentences," and have to demonstrate their reading and writing proficiency in fifth grade, according to the legislation. Overdorf said cursive writing can help with hand-eye coordination and has also been proven as a tool in dyslexia therapy . "Having that ability to sign your own name and have your own signature on a lease, on a mortgage, on a job application, all of these things are so critical for young and older adults alike," Overdorf said.

The identical bills in both the House, sponsored by Overdorf and Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce, and Senate, sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, do not describe how students will have to demonstrate their proficiency. They do say that they will be expected to have the "ability to read and apply cursive writing in a manner that supports literacy development, including writing essays and assignments in cursive writing in accordance with state academic standards." In 2014, the State Board of Education brought cursive instruction back and made it a requirement for English language arts instruction for third to fifth graders.

But that's an agency rule, which doesn't carry the same force of a law. Related materials: Check here