The House Student Academic Success Subcommittee unanimously advanced a bill 17-0 on Tuesday that would require cursive handwriting instruction in schools for students in grades two through five as well as other proficiencies to improve their cursive penmanship.
Rep. Tobin "Toby" Overdorf (R-Palm City) explained his bill (HB 921) to the subcommittee. Sen. Erin Grall (R-Fort Pierce) filed an identical bill in the Senate.
"In a digital age, we must not lose sight of the foundational skills that connect us to our history and sharpen our minds," Overdorf said. "If our students can't read cursive writing, then they can't read the Declaration of Independence, the U.S Constitution, or even a grandparent's handwritten letter."
"Cursive writing isn't just a skill, it's a link to our heritage and of lifelong learning. This bill adds cursive writing to the statutorily required instruction for students [in] grades two through five. The bill also defines proficiency in cursive writing as the ability to write upper and lower case letters in cursive, writing words and sentences legibly with proper spacing and alignment, and the ability to read and apply cursive writing to support literacy requirements," Overdorf added.
Rep. Yvonne Hayes Hinson (D-Gainesville) asked Overdorf if charter schools were exempt from the bill.
"Public charter schools are not exempt," Overdorf said.
Rep. Doug Bankson (R-Apopka) also asked Overdorf if studies existed that showed the benefits of cursive writing on the brain.
"Absolutely. It certainly has major cognitive benefits. It has the ability then of hand-eye coordination. I actually just met with some parent groups this morning that said it also helps with the early diagnosis of dyslexia as well. And so it may be an opportunity there that now with all these different skills put in place, it could actually provide even a better foundation for our students," Overdorf said.
Reps. Kevin Steele (R-Hudson), Yvette Benarroch (R-Naples), and Hayes Hinson all overwhelmingly approved of the bill's importance.
"This bill also plays a role in everyday life. Your voter ID card. Your financial documents. They all will require that personal signature. This gives that opportunity for people all across Florida to be able to have that," Overdorf concluded.
The bill now heads to the Education and Employment Committee for consideration. If fully passed, HB 921 would take effect on July 1.
