New Jersey joins other U.S. states in reintroducing cursive writing in classrooms

New Jersey reinstates cursive writing requirements

Old-school skills are making a significant comeback to help students succeed in a digital world. Governor Phil Murphy officially signed legislation on January 19, 2026, to bring cursive writing back into classrooms.

This new law requires school districts to teach cursive to students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. Supporters believe this change will help children sign their names and read historical papers.

The new rules take effect immediately for the 2026–2027 school year. This change helps students learn more than just typing on a computer.

Legislation details and official bill numbers

The New Jersey Legislature worked on this specific plan for a long time. The bill is officially known as S1783 or A3865 in the state house. On January 12, 2026, the State Assembly voted in favor of the bill with a strong 72–1 result.

The Senate also showed strong support, passing the measure with a unanimous 39–0 vote last week. These high numbers show that leaders from different groups agreed on the plan.

By signing this, Governor Murphy made handwriting an official part of the state education rules.

Comparing New Jersey to other states

New Jersey is not the only state making this significant change for students. In 2026, New Jersey became the 26th state in the country to require cursive writing.

Kentucky also joined this group recently when Governor Andy Beshear signed a similar bill on April 17, 2024. Many states started removing handwriting after the Common Core standards were created in 2010.

Now, over 50 percent of the United States requires kids to learn this skill. Educators in many places believe that computers should not replace every hand skill.

Academic goals for fifth grade students

The new law sets clear goals for what students must achieve by the time they are ten years old. New Jersey schools must ensure every child can read and write cursive legibly by the end of fifth grade.

Students will learn how to form uppercase and lowercase letters and join them together smoothly. Teachers will use activities to help kids practice writing their full names and sentences without stopping.

This helps students finish their work faster than printing each letter separately. The state wants children to be fully proficient before middle school.

Florida proposes new handwriting testing rules

Florida is considering even stricter rules for students. On January 22, 2026, a Florida House committee approved HB 127. This proposal would require public school students to pass a test to show they can write in cursive.

Current Florida rules say schools must teach it, but there is no official test for it yet. The new bill would require a proficiency evaluation for all fifth graders. Florida lawmakers want to make sure every student actually learns the skill.

Brain development and learning benefits

Scientists have found that writing by hand is very good for a child’s brain. Research published in 2020 showed that cursive writing helps the brain encode new information better than typing.

When students use a pen, they activate the parietal lobes and the central regions of the brain. This activity helps kids remember what they are learning in class.

Typing only uses a small part of the brain because pressing a key is always the same movement. Cursive requires complex movements that build stronger connections for learning.

Connecting to American history and documents

Learning cursive helps students especially connect with the past. New Jersey will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026. Most of the famous papers from that time, like the Constitution, were written in cursive.

If students cannot read cursive, they cannot understand these crucial documents in their original form. Governor Murphy stated that we owe it to students to give them these tools.

This skill allows children to become leaders who understand the rich history of their own country.

Fine motor skills and dexterity

Writing in a flowing style helps kids develop better hand control. Cursive requires continuous movement, which strengthens muscle memory and hand-eye coordination.

Experts say this is more helpful for young children than printing, which requires many starts and stops. Some studies show that students who struggle with printing often find cursive much easier to learn.

By practicing these smooth movements, kids improve their fine motor skills for other tasks. This physical practice is an essential part of growing up and learning in school.

Essential life skills and personal signatures

Many adults use cursive every day without even thinking about it. One of the most important reasons to learn cursive is to create a legal signature. People need signatures to open a bank account, sign a check, or buy a house.

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson said that signing your name is an essential life skill for every adult. Without this skill, students might struggle with simple tasks as they grow up.

Learning this in elementary school prepares them for the responsibilities they will face in the future.

Memory retention and better spelling

Writing things down by hand helps students do better on their school tests. Research from 2022 shows that longhand note-takers remember information much better than people who type.

When students write in cursive, they have to think more carefully about the words. This process helps them learn how to spell words correctly and understand what they mean.

Cursive also prevents kids from mixing up letters like “b” and “d” because the movements are different. These benefits lead to better grades and higher academic success in school.

Support for diverse learning styles

Cursive writing is helpful for many different types of students. New Jersey Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer says that handwriting reinforces foundations for all learners.

Some children with learning differences find cursive easier because the letters in a word are connected. This helps them see each word as a single unit instead of separate pieces.

The new law allows schools to use different methods to help every student succeed. By offering cursive, schools provide more ways for children to feel confident and improve their literacy skills every day.

Challenges and different opinions

Not everyone thinks that teaching cursive is the best use of school time. Some experts, like Professor Morgan Polikoff, wonder why we are focusing on handwriting in a digital world.

Critics say that schools should spend more time teaching students about technology and artificial intelligence. They worry that teachers already have too much to do and might not have enough resources.

However, the New Jersey Assembly still passed the bill with only 1 person voting against it. Most leaders believe the benefits outweigh the extra work.

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Looking ahead to the next school year

New Jersey schools are preparing for a significant change starting in September 2026. Teachers will begin incorporating cursive lessons into their weekly plans for third through fifth graders.

Districts will need to find new workbooks and tools to help students practice their scripts. This movement shows a growing trend across the United States to value traditional skills alongside modern technology.

By the end of fifth grade, thousands of students will be able to write their names with pride. Cursive is officially back in New Jersey schools.

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Can you still read your grandparents’ handwriting? Tell us in the comments!

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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