Introduction
California grade school students, ages 6 to 12, are now required to learn cursive handwriting, thanks to Assembly Bill 446 signed into law in October.
Targeted Grade Levels
Cursive lessons are particularly aimed at “appropriate” grade levels, typically starting from the third grade and above. This is because experts believe that learning cursive has cognitive development, reading comprehension, and fine motor skill benefits.
Early Adoption and Challenges
Some schools, like Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton, were already teaching cursive before the law’s implementation on January 1. Some students find cursive challenging, especially certain letters like Z, but express excitement about the perceived elegance and enjoyment of learning new letters.
Decline of Cursive
Cursive writing had declined with the rise of computer keyboards and tablets. In 2010, national Common Core education standards omitted cursive instruction, contributing to its decline.
California’s Position
California becomes the 22nd state to mandate cursive handwriting, and the 14th to enact a cursive instruction bill since 2014.
National Trend
Cursive is making a comeback across the nation, with five states introducing cursive bills in 2024. Research suggests that learning cursive engages different neural networks and enhances childhood development by creating pathways in the brain.
Cognitive Benefits
Cursive helps with information retention and the understanding of letter sounds and connections. The bill promoting cursive instruction in California, Assembly Bill 446, was sponsored by former elementary school teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva and signed into law in October.
Inspirations Behind the Law
Sharon Quirk-Silva was inspired by a 2016 meeting with former Governor Jerry Brown, who urged the return of cursive writing. The goal of the legislation is for students to be able to read and write cursive by the time they leave sixth grade.
Teacher Preparation
Kathleen Wright, founder of the Handwriting Collective, points out that teacher colleges are not adequately preparing teachers to teach handwriting, contributing to the decline of cursive.
Conclusion and Student Enthusiasm
Students express enthusiasm for cursive, describing it as “fancier” and expressing enjoyment in learning new letters. Cursive is seen as a way to connect with historical documents, as illustrated by students’ excitement upon seeing the U.S. Constitution in cursive. In 2016, California still had cursive writing goals, but the instruction was reportedly inconsistent, leading to the legislative push for its revival.