New Jersey public schools will again teach cursive handwriting to elementary students after Governor Phil Murphy signed bipartisan legislation on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
At a Glance
- Cursive returns to grades 3-5 starting next school year
- Bill had ten co-sponsors in Senate and Assembly
- Common Core had dropped handwriting in 2010
- Why it matters: Students will be able to read founding documents and sign legal papers
The mandate, contained in bill S1783/A3865, reverses a decade-plus gap created when Common Core State Standards adopted in 2010 omitted handwriting instruction. New Jersey is now among several states reinstating cursive, citing both practical and cognitive benefits.
Senator Angela McKnight, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, and Assemblywoman Rosaura Bagolie co-sponsored the measure. Districts must integrate the lessons into the curriculum beginning with the next full school year.
Governor Murphy tied the policy to the upcoming 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. “The return to including cursive instruction is especially meaningful as New Jersey celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of our country’s founding – giving our students the skills they need to read our nation’s founding documents and complete tasks like opening a bank account or signing a check, in addition to offering cognitive benefits,” he said in a statement released by his office.
The governor framed the requirement as part of a broader obligation to prepare students for civic life. “We owe it to our students to give them a well-rounded education that ensures they have the tools to fully understand our rich history and become competent leaders,” Murphy added.
According to a spokesperson for the governor, the 2010 Common Core adoption left New Jersey and multiple other states without mandated handwriting instruction. The new law restores that component specifically for third, fourth, and fifth graders.
The bill signing was first reported by Sarah L. Montgomery of News Of Philadelphia.
Key Takeaways
- Lessons must start no later than the 2026-27 school year
- Curriculum applies to all New Jersey public schools
- Instruction aims to improve document literacy and fine-motor skills
- Move aligns New Jersey with a national trend reversing Common Core omissions
