by Cursive handwriting may be making a comeback in U.S. classrooms—and for good reason.
Not long ago, my 8-year-old son received a birthday card from his grandmother. After opening it, he looked at me and said, “I can’t read cursive yet,” before handing it over so I could read it for him.
If your child attends school in places like Philadelphia, chances are they haven’t been taught cursive either. But that could soon change.
Cursive Returns to the Classroom
States like California, Iowa, and Oklahoma have already passed laws requiring cursive handwriting instruction in elementary and middle schools. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are considering similar bills, and more states may follow.
As an associate professor of special education and director of the Iowa Reading Research Center, I’m part of a team reviewing the research on cursive instruction. Our goal? To understand whether learning cursive can improve students’ reading and writing skills.
Why Cursive Faded Away
Cursive handwriting involves connecting letters in a flowing style, like you’d see in someone’s signature. It used to be a standard part of school instruction, but that changed in 2010 when most states adopted the Common Core academic standards. These new standards dropped cursive from the required curriculum and gave only minimal attention to print handwriting—where letters are written separately.
Since then, many teachers have struggled to fit handwriting instruction into an already packed school day. National surveys show that teachers find it challenging to cover both basic writing skills, like handwriting, and more complex tasks, like essay writing.
The Hidden Benefits of Handwriting
So why the renewed interest in cursive? One reason is the push to boost student literacy.
On the National Assessment of Educational Progress, just 31% of U.S. fourth graders read at or above the proficient level. In Philadelphia, that number drops to just 19%.
Research shows handwriting instruction—especially in print—can help improve overall writing and reading. Early studies suggest cursive might offer similar benefits. Some research links cursive instruction to improved legibility, longer writing samples, and even gains in spelling and storytelling.
Cursive might seem like just a motor skill, but it actually taps into deep reading knowledge. Writing the word “cat,” for instance, involves knowing the shape, name, and sound of each letter, then using memory, motor skills, and vision to write it. Cursive writing demands coordination between the brain, hand, and eyes—all while drawing on language knowledge.
More Than Just Academics
Beyond academics, cursive has cultural and practical value. Many formal documents still require cursive signatures, and understanding cursive is key to reading historical documents like the Declaration of Independence.
Even in today’s digital world, cursive isn’t obsolete. Devices like tablets often allow handwriting input with digital pens, and many college students still prefer writing notes by hand. Plus, traditional tools like pencils and paper are much cheaper than replacing broken electronics.
While it may be a challenge to fit cursive into the school day, teaching it could help students develop a broader range of communication skills. And that’s something worth writing home about.
