It is Time to Fight for Cursive Writing To Return as a Requirement in our Schools in the 25 States That Do Not Require It
- Mema
- 3 days ago
- 6 min read
As a former teacher who used to teach the Palmer Method to my elementary school children and as the mother of six grandchildren, it hurt my heart when in 2010 the U.S. education system removed cursive writing as a school curriculum requirement from the federal Common Core Standards.
New Jersey has just become the 25th state, meaning, as of the beginning of 2026, we now have half of our states, again requiring cursive instruction in public schools. Half, or more than half of the children we know, depending on when the requirement was reinstated, do not know how to write their own cursive signature! At least half of the children we know cannot read our cursive message and our cursive signature on the birthday cards and notes we may send them! Ask. You will be surprised as I was when they admitted they could not read what I wrote.
New Jersey now, in 2026, passed a law mandating that students in grades 3 to 5 learn to read and write cursive, and aims to equip students with skills for life, like signing documents and understanding, historical texts. New Jersey! 2026!
It was so upsetting to me that my grandchildren wouldn’t be able to create their own signature, but the excuse was that they didn’t need it in this digital age. As a teacher, I knew that cursive writing improves fine motor skills, hand and eye coordination, and information retention. The awful 2010 shift prioritized instant, digital communication over thoughtful, handwritten expression, resulting in messier, less legible, writing, and important loss of fine motor skill development. And no personal signature of one’s own!
Please ask parents you know if cursive writing is being taught in their state schools or local schools. Check the list below so you can tell them. I bet they do not know that it is NOT taught.
HELP THE CHILD IMPORTANT TO YOU CREATE THEIR OWN SIGNATURE: PREVIOUS TEACHING CURSIVE BLOG POSTS
When was the last time you got a handwritten thank you note from the children in your life or grandchildren? Are you happy with the prevalent text message thank you?
Because it was determined that supposedly modern children didn’t need a signature to open bank accounts, sign checks, and connect with history, here are blogs I previously wrote to help any of you teach any child, teenager, or even young adult, who is important to you to at least get it their own cursive signature, and even learn the history of the signature.
You can easily teach a child yourself to create their own unique signature.
WHERE DOES YOUR STATE STAND ON TEACHING CURSIVE
YES
The states with NEW or reinstated cursive requirements Post 2010 are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Virginia, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Utah, California, New Hampshire, and Now, New Jersey.
NO
As of January 2026, the following states do not have a statewide legal mandate requiring cursive writing instruction. Since 2010, the trend has shifted from nearly 45 states dropping the requirement to over 25 states reinstating it by early 2026.
In the following states, there is currently no statewide mandate, and the decision to teach cursive may be left to individual school districts:
Colorado (Recent legislation proposed but not yet passed)
Connecticut (Legislation suggested but not currently a mandate)
Hawaii (Replaced cursive with digital literacy in 2011)
Iowa (Education department announced requirements in 2024, but statewide legislative status remains varied)
Maine (Decision left to local school districts)
Missouri (Legislation was introduced but stalled as of 2024)
Montana (Decision left to local school districts)
Nevada (Considering legislation as of 2025)
New Mexico (Decision left to local school districts)
New York (Education officials treat it as optional for districts)
Pennsylvania (Legislation passed the House in 2025 but was still pending final approval as of January 2026)
Rhode Island (Decision left to local school districts)
South Dakota (Decision left to local school districts)
Washington (Taught in some districts like Seattle, but not required statewide)
Wyoming (Decision left to local school districts)
To get more information about cursive writing and the status of states on the issue, see www.mycursive.com
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CONVINCE YOUR STATE OR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TO TEACH CURSIVE
YOU CAN WRITE AN EMAIL TO YOUR CONGRESSPERSON WITH INSTUCTIONS BELOW.
If you are interested, there is a lot more you can do. Here is a list from AI.
To convince a state or local school district to mandate cursive writing in schools, an individual may build a coalition of parents and teachers to lobby school board or state legislators, cite research on cognitive benefits (like improved fine motor skills and memory), emphasize the importance of reading historical documents, and advocate for specific rules or legislation requiring proficiency by 5th grade.
Actionable Steps to Influence State Policy:
Lobby school board members and Legislators & Testify: Identify school board members and state senators and representatives on the education committee and send letters or testify at hearings.
Leverage Research Data: Argue that cursive improves brain development, fine motor skills, spelling, and literacy, acting as a "mental workout".
Focus on Historical Literacy: Emphasize that without cursive, students cannot read original historical documents (e.g., the Constitution) or family heirlooms.
Highlight Dyslexia Support: Cite evidence that cursive can help students with dyslexia by improving decoding and hand-eye coordination.
Build Local Coalitions: Gather support from other parents, teachers, and school board members to create a petition, as shown in local efforts like those reported by Spectrum News.
Advocate for Specific Standards: Propose that states mandate cursive instruction by the end of 5th grade, with clear standards for competency.
Key Arguments to Use:
Academic Improvement: Studies show it enhances memory, critical thinking, and brain development compared to typing.
Practical Skills: It is still necessary for signing legal documents and reviewing historical records.
Modern Relevance: Argue many states, including California, Texas, and North Carolina, have already brought it back.
Please forward this blog post to friends and relatives with children in the states that need convincing that cursive writing should be taught in the schools.
Ask to see the signature of each of the children important in your life. Think about offering to help those who want and need it create a cursive signature all their own.
Be sure to let them know that their signature will change overtime and as they get older, but it will always be unique and their very own, with
Joy,
Mema
FYI. HOW TO EMAIL YOUR CONGRESSPERSON. During a legislative session and to save your time, physical mail may be slow; consider using their provided email contact form for time-sensitive issues such as this.
To get the address to write to your state congressperson (state senator or state representative/assembly member), you should
Use the official "Find Your Legislator" tools provided by your state's legislature website. These tools allow you to enter your home address to get the direct, accurate mailing address for your representative's local district office or capital office.
Here is how to get the address and write to them:
1. Find Your Representative
Use State-Specific Websites: Search for "[Your State] State Senate" or "[Your State] House of Representatives" and look for a "Find Your Legislator" or "Find Your Representative" tool.
Common Cause Tool: Use the Common Cause "Find Your Representatives" tool, which uses your address to identify both state and federal officials.
Florida Specific (Example): Visit FLsenate.gov (for Senators) or FLhouse.gov (for Representatives) and use the "Find Your Legislator" feature.
2. Locate the Mailing Address
Once you find your legislator's page, their district office address, phone number, and email form will be listed.
Note on Address Types: State legislators often have two addresses: one in your local district and one in the state capitol. Both are valid, but local district offices are often better for receiving mail.
3. Tips for Writing
Address to Use:
The Honorable [Name]
Office Address]
Be Concise: Keep letters to one page and focus on one issue.
Identify Yourself: Start by stating you are a constituent and include your return address.
Be Specific: Mention the specific bill number (e.g., HB 123) if you are writing about legislation.
Timing: During a legislative session, physical mail may be slow; consider using their provided email contact form for time-sensitive issues.