Florida public school students in grades 3 through 5 will be required to learn cursive writing — and prove they’ve mastered it — when a new state law takes effect July 1.
Gov. DeSantis signed the legislation into law earlier this year. The cursive writing requirement is part of a broader education bill, SB 182, passed during the 2026 legislative session.
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What students must learn
Under the new law, third through fifth grade students must receive instruction in cursive writing, covering letter formation, proper spacing and alignment, and practice writing complete words and sentences.
By the end of fifth grade, each student must demonstrate they can write uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet in cursive, write words and sentences legibly with proper spacing and alignment, and read and apply cursive writing in a way that supports literacy development — including writing essays and class assignments in cursive.
What comes next
The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and develop assessments tied to the cursive writing requirements, though the law stops short of mandating it do so.