New Jersey could be next state to bring back cursive in schools

Members of the current generation may not be able to write or even read cursive handwriting, but that may change in New Jersey.

A lawmaker in The Garden State has introduced a bill that would require students to learn how to both read and write in cursive by the end of third grade, WPVI reported.

Assemblywoman Angela McKnight (D-Hudson) presented the bill last month after she learned that there are some middle schoolers who don’t know how to sign their own name. She said the students are not being taught a “vital skill they will need for the rest of their lives," WPVI reported.

The bill is on the way to the New Jersey Assembly Education Committee for review.

New Jersey is following in the footsteps of other states that have enacted laws governing handwriting.

Illinois passed such a law in 2017.

Ohio added supplemental instruction in cursive handwriting this year.

Texas will have second graders learning cursive for the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills language arts next year, KTRK reported.

Cursive was phased out of learning in 2010 when it comes to Common Core standards, many schools have followed suit, KYW reported.

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