Cursive instruction bill signed into law
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Legislation that will require Pennsylvania schools to teach cursive handwriting has been signed into law.
Rep. Dane Watro, R-Luzerne/Schuylkill, the bill's sponsor in the state House of Representatives, gathered recently in the governor's reception room with Gov. Josh Shapiro, colleagues, educators, family and current and former staff for a ceremonial bill signing of Act 2 of 2026. The measure was enacted into law in February.
"In an increasingly digital world, cursive has fallen by the wayside," said Watro. "However, there are compelling cognitive, developmental, and practical reasons for ensuring students have at least a basic grasp of cursive writing. Thank you to everyone who helped move this legislation across the finish line. Together, we’re preserving an important educational tool for future generations of Pennsylvanians."
Watro's legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House and Senate. The state House of Representatives approved House Bill 17 in a 195-8 vote in June 2025. Rep. Kathy Rapp, R-Warren, had signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill, with several Democrats also signing on as co-sponsors. The state Senate passed the bill by a 42-5 vote on Feb. 3 with local state Sen. Scott Hutchinson, R-Oil City, voting in favor.
States requiring cursive include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Only 14 states required cursive instruction in 2016, with that number growing to more than 20 states with Shapiro still to decide on Pennsylvania's bill. Legislation has also been introduced in the New York state legislature, but that bill hasn't progressed out of committee. Many New York school districts, however, still reach cursive in elementary school.
The push in some states to emphasize cursive handwriting came out of the Common Core State Standards, which placed greater emphasis on keyboarding rather than writing on pen and paper.
Watro had previously introduced a similar bill (HB 1934) in the 2023-24 legislative session. It failed to move out of the House Education Committee at the time.
Watrous said cursive writing supports cognitive development and connects us to our history. Research shows that writing in cursive activates areas of the brain tied to memory, language and critical thinking. It also promotes fine motor skills, improving hand-eye coordination and dexterity.
“More than half of U.S. states have enacted laws or established standards requiring cursive instruction in public schools,” Watro said in February. “These states understand cursive provides students another way to learn, express themselves and be better prepared for their future academic, professional and personal lives.I’m grateful to the Senate for sending this bill to the governor, who I urge to sign it into law as soon as he can.”