A bill requiring Florida public elementary schools to teach cursive writing is headed to the full Florida House after gaining unanimous approval from the House Education & Employment Committee on Thursday.
The proposed legislation, HB 921, would mandate cursive instruction for students in grades 2 through 5, requiring them to demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City), emphasized the practical importance of cursive writing in everyday life.
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“Cursive writing plays a crucial role in everyday life,” Overdorf told the committee. “Going to a bank, signing your name, putting your name on a voter ID card, and that individual signature that then has to be replicated over and over again to prove that you are you.”
Overdorf noted that most private schools in Florida already require cursive writing instruction, and this bill would ensure public school students receive the same training.
While the bill received unanimous support, some lawmakers expressed concerns about its implementation.
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Rep. Rita Harris (D-Orlando), who voted in favor of the bill, pointed out that cursive writing is already part of public school curricula and worried about adding more standardized testing for students.
“Maybe kids who are second-graders can begin to learn cursive, and it will catch things like dyslexia earlier and improve hand-eye coordination,” Harris said. “But we need to do it in a way that’s not going to put more pressure on teachers and students.”
A Senate version of the bill (SB 1394), sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), has been filed but has not yet been scheduled for committee hearings. If passed by both chambers, the law would go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.
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