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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A new bill in Florida seeks to make cursive a required subject in schools again.
HB 127, introduced by state Rep. Toby Oberdorf, R-85th District, and state Rep. Dana Trabulsi, R-84th District, would require students in grades 2 through 5 to learn cursive.
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This course covers cursive letter formation, spacing and placement, and writing in complete words and sentences.
By the end of fifth grade, students must demonstrate their cursive writing skills through assessment of their own written work.
According to the bill, proficiency is determined by:
Ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters in cursive Ability to legibly write words and sentences in cursive Ability to “read and apply cursive in ways that support literacy development, such as writing essays and assignments in cursive according to state academic standards.”
If the bill passes the Legislature and is signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, it would go into effect on July 1, 2026.
The current bill has been referred to the Student Academic Success Subcommittee. A previous bill introduced in 2025 passed the Florida House of Representatives but died in the Senate.
