Pennsylvania Reintroduces Mandatory Cursive Writing in Primary Schools
Cursive handwriting instruction has been reinstated as a mandatory component of elementary education in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Under a bill signed by Governor Josh Shapiro on February 11, public and private elementary school curricula will now include print, joined italics, and cursive handwriting.
The legislation, introduced by Republican State Representative Dane Watro, passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support. With this move, Pennsylvania joins approximately 25 other states that require cursive handwriting instruction.The bill emphasizes that cursive writing is a foundational skill that contributes to students’ academic and professional development. Watro stated that research indicates cursive writing supports cognitive development, strengthens neural connections, and improves hand–eye coordination.
The new regulation is also seen as important for helping students develop a personal signature and for enabling them to read historical documents such as the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The National Archives’ 2025 call for volunteers proficient in cursive to help transcribe historical documents is cited as an example of this need. Education officials expect that including cursive handwriting in the curriculum will enhance students’ written expression skills and improve their overall learning.