Governor Phil Murphy today signed into law S1783/A3865, requiring school districts to incorporate instruction on cursive handwriting into third- through fifth-grade curricula.

Years of decline in national cursive instruction followed the 2010 adoption of the Common Core State Standards, which omitted handwriting from its curriculum. Many other states in addition to New Jersey, such as California and New Hampshire, are now reversing course by requiring cursive instruction in schools, citing benefits for students.

“The return to including cursive instruction is especially meaningful as New Jersey celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of our country’s founding – giving our students the skills they need to read our nation’s founding documents and complete tasks like opening a bank account or signing a check, in addition to offering cognitive benefits,” said Governor Murphy. “We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders.”

“Ensuring that all students learn cursive handwriting reinforces not just a traditional skill, but developmental foundations that support fine motor development, literacy skills, and student confidence,” said New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “By embedding cursive instruction into the curriculum for grades three through five, this legislation strengthens our commitment to a well-rounded education that prepares students for real-world tasks, helps them connect with historical texts, and complements other learning.”

The requirements take effect immediately and apply to the next full school year.

S1783/A3865 was co-sponsored by Senator Angela McKnight, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, and Assemblywoman Rosaura Bagolie.

“By guaranteeing that all students have a solid background in cursive handwriting, we are giving them a valuable skill they will use throughout their lives – whether it’s signing a check or interpreting an important document,” said Senator Angela McKnight. “Not only does handwriting instruction encourage better retention and comprehension of information, but it also allows our students to build self-confidence and maintain a vital connection to written communication in the increasingly digital age.”

“Reading and writing in cursive has wonderful cognitive and developmental benefits,” said Senator Shirley Turner. “Studies show again and again that writing by hand enhances learning by improving reading, comprehension, memory, fine motor, and critical thinking skills. Cursive is a timeless and necessary skill that we must incorporate into our curriculum again.”

“We know that learning cursive can offer many cognitive benefits and knowing how to sign your name on documents like mortgages and bank papers is an essential life skill,” said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. “This bill will ensure that cursive is part of the curriculum for students in grades three through five, giving them an important foundational tool to succeed later in life.”

“For those of  us who grew up handwriting our school papers, it’s hard to imagine that some children can no longer read or write using cursive,” said Assemblywoman Shanique Speight. “Requiring that cursive be taught in our public schools will benefit our students and prepare them for the future, so I am pleased to see this bill signed into law.”

“Cursive writing is not about nostalgia—it’s about development,” said Assemblywoman Rosy Bagolie. “From a learning-science perspective, handwriting engages neural pathways connected to literacy, attention, and memory. Research shows that handwriting instruction supports writing fluency and learning, particularly when students are developing foundational literacy skills. This bill ensures districts retain flexibility to use instructional methods that support diverse learners.”