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Pennsylvania Students Will Soon Be Required to Learn Cursive
The law emphasizes cognitive benefits and historical literacy, joining 24 states with cursive instruction mandates, effective April 12, 2026.
- On Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Act 2 of 2026, which takes effect April 12, requiring cursive instruction statewide in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
- Rep. Dane Watro introduced the proposal, and Sen. Wayne Langerholc sponsored it in the Senate; sponsors argued cursive faded amid digital life and cited research on cognitive benefits.
- The law requires elementary curricula to include print, joined italics and cursive handwriting, and public and private elementary schools must teach these at appropriate grade levels.
- Supporters said students will gain practical skills including secure signatures and help reading historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution, citing research on executive function and motor skills.
- Pennsylvania will join 18 other states in requiring cursive, as the National Archives sought cursive-literate volunteers in 2025, highlighting broader demand for the skill.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Letter: Cursive or not, cost of public education too high
Editor: After reading in the Daily Times today that the governor has signed legislation to make cursive writing mandatory, I researched backwards on education in the 1960s, with interesting results as follows: In 1960, the basic school curriculum was heavily academic, focusing on core “three Rs” (reading, writing, arithmetic), alongside history, geography and science. A significant shift included the introduction of “new math” (focusing on set t…
The Daily Item
Allied NewsCursive handwriting mandate among 6 bills signed into law by Shapiro
HARRISBURG — A bill mandating that cursive handwriting be taught in all public and private elementary schools across Pennsylvania is among six pieces of legislation Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law this week.
Pennsylvania Capital-Star
WFMZCursive handwriting is set for a comeback in Pennsylvania schools
The Pennsylvania Capitol on Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (Photo by Peter Hall/Capital-Star)Cursive writing lessons will be back in Pennsylvania classrooms after state lawmakers passed legislation requiring its reintroduction this month. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bill into law Wednesday. It adds printing, joined italics and cursive to the writing curriculum in the commonwealth’s school code and takes effect April 12. Sponsored by Rep. Dane Watro (R-…
Cursive returning to Pa. schools, students react
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Cursive handwriting is on its way to making a big comeback in Pennsylvania after a new bill makes it required for schools to teach it. Gov. Shapiro signed a bill into law that requires all Pa. schools to start teaching cursive handwriting. Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-35) was one of the [...]
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