TRENTON, NJ – Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation requiring the return of cursive handwriting instruction in New Jersey’s public schools, reinstating a traditional skill that had largely disappeared from classrooms over the past decade.
The new law, S1783/A3865, mandates that school districts incorporate cursive instruction into the curriculum for students in grades three through five. The requirement takes effect immediately and will apply to the next full school year.
The move reverses years of declining cursive instruction that followed the 2010 adoption of the Common Core State Standards, which removed handwriting from its framework. New Jersey now joins several other states, including California and New Hampshire, in restoring cursive lessons, citing both academic and practical benefits.
Governor Murphy said the measure carries symbolic and educational importance as the state prepares to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. “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,” Murphy said.
New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer called cursive handwriting “a foundational skill” that supports literacy, fine motor development, and confidence. “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 and helps them connect with historical texts,” Dehmer said.
The bill was co-sponsored by Senator Angela McKnight, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, and Assemblywoman Rosaura Bagolie. Each highlighted the developmental and lifelong benefits of handwriting instruction.
Senator McKnight said the measure gives students a valuable skill that enhances comprehension and self-confidence. Senator Turner noted that handwriting has been shown to improve memory and critical thinking skills, calling cursive “a timeless and necessary skill.”
Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson said cursive writing offers practical benefits that extend beyond the classroom, from signing legal documents to improving cognitive abilities. Assemblywoman Speight added that requiring cursive instruction ensures students “can read and write using a skill once considered essential.”
Assemblywoman Bagolie emphasized that handwriting strengthens neural pathways linked to literacy and focus. “Cursive writing is not about nostalgia—it’s about development,” she said.
With Murphy’s signature, cursive handwriting will officially make its comeback in New Jersey schools beginning next academic year, marking the state’s first mandate on handwriting instruction in more than a decade.
Governor Murphy signs law requiring cursive writing lessons in grades three through five, restoring the traditional skill to New Jersey classrooms.
