Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 444
By
Senator Grall
29-00831-26 2026444__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to required instruction in cursive
3 writing; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring students
4 in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive
5 writing; providing requirements for such instruction;
6 requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in
7 cursive writing by the end of a specified grade;
8 defining the term “proficiency in cursive writing”;
9 providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. Paragraph (w) is added to subsection (2) of
14 section 1003.42, Florida Statutes, to read:
15 1003.42 Required instruction.—
16 (2) Members of the instructional staff of the public
17 schools, subject to the rules of the State Board of Education
18 and the district school board, shall teach efficiently and
19 faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the
20 highest standards for professionalism and historical accuracy,
21 following the prescribed courses of study, and employing
22 approved methods of instruction, the following:
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(w)1.
For students in grades 2 through 5, the study of
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cursive writing and the development of the skills necessary for
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legible cursive writing, including:
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a.
Letter formation.
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b.
Proper spacing and alignment.
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c.
Practice in writing complete words and sentences in
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cursive.
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2.
By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate
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proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of written
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work. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term “proficiency
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in cursive writing” means all of the following:
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a.
The ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters of
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the alphabet in cursive writing.
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b.
Writing words and sentences in cursive legibly and
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maintaining proper spacing and alignment.
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c.
The ability to read and apply cursive writing in a
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manner that supports literacy development, including writing
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essays and assignments in cursive writing in accordance with
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state academic standards.
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43 The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards
44 and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.
45 Instructional programming that incorporates the values of the
46 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor and that is
47 offered as part of a social studies, English Language Arts, or
48 other schoolwide character building and veteran awareness
49 initiative meets the requirements of paragraph (u).
50 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.