Pennsylvania Law Mandates Cursive Instruction Return

Governor Josh Shapiro signed legislation requiring cursive handwriting lessons to resume in Pennsylvania classrooms starting April 12. The new law also mandates the inclusion of printing and joined italics, reversing a decision made in 2010 when Common Core standards removed state-specific requirements for these skills. Lawmakers argue that reintegrating formal penmanship supports cognitive development, legal preparedness, and historical literacy by ensuring students can read important documents written in traditional script.