Cursive Writing Mandate is Moving in NJ Legislature. New INFO & UPDATE
What's Happening:
S2712 Requires public schools to include instruction on cursive handwriting. We reported earlier this bill was moving and the number was S1783. That changed because the Senate Education Committee on January 30 combined S1783 into S2712 because the bills were virtually identical. The bill was passed out of committee and referred to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
On March 10, the Assembly Education Committee passed their version A3865 with amendments. These amendments actually initiate cursive handwriting instruction in third grade through the fifth grade for cursive handwriting and reading instead of requiring proficiency in cursive handwriting and reading to be completed by third grade.
We have been informed that when the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee takes up the bill, they will add the assembly amendments to the Senate bill so that they are identical. Doing so will streamline the process and make for easier passage on the Senate floor. At this point, Senate Bill S2712 is the operative bill.
Assembly Education Committee statement on the passage of A3865 "Requires public schools to include instruction on cursive handwriting."
"The Assembly Education Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3865, March 10, 2025. The vote was unanimous!
As amended, this bill requires a school district to incorporate instruction on cursive handwriting in the curriculum for students in grades three through five. The curriculum is to include activities and instructional materials that help students become proficient in reading cursive and legibly writing in cursive by the end of grade five.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:
The committee amended the bill to provide that:
· the instruction on cursive handwriting be included in the curriculum for students in grades three through five and
· the curriculum is to include activities and instructional materials that help students become proficient in reading cursive and legibly writing in cursive by the end of the fifth grade."
Cursive handwriting should never have been removed from New Jersey public school education. The Center for Garden State Families is actively working to pass this vital piece of legislation for our children.
Vote YES to pass this bill.