SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 444

Required Instruction in Cursive Writing
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SPONSOR
Grall
FILED BY
Erin Grall — District 29, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 182 — SB 444 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Education.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Required Instruction in Cursive Writing; Requiring students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the end of a specified grade; defining the term “proficiency in cursive writing”, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates cursive instruction and a grade 5 proficiency test for students.

Public school students in grades 2 through 5 must now receive specific cursive writing instruction. This includes learning letter formation, spacing, and writing complete words and sentences.

By the end of grade 5, every student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of their written work. This creates a new mandatory assessment requirement for students.

The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and pursue assessment of these new cursive writing requirements. This gives the board discretion to define how proficiency is measured.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Cursive Instruction majors. 1003.42(2)(w)

AICreates a legal requirement for public schools to teach cursive writing to students in grades 2 through 5.

“For students in grades 2 through 5, the study of cursive writing and the development of the skills necessary for legible cursive writing” bill text, line 23 →
§ 2 Grade 5 Proficiency Requirement majors. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIRequires every student to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the end of grade 5 through an evaluation of their written work.

“By the end of grade 5, each student must demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing through an evaluation of written work.” bill text, line 30 →
§ 3 Definition of Proficiency moderates. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIDefines proficiency as the ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters, write legibly with proper spacing, and read/apply cursive for literacy tasks like essays.

“The ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet in cursive writing.” bill text, line 34 →
§ 4 State Board Authority moderates. 1003.42(2)(w)

AIEncourages, but does not require, the State Board of Education to adopt standards and pursue assessment of the cursive writing requirements.

“The State Board of Education is encouraged to adopt standards and pursue assessment of the requirements of this subsection.” bill text, line 43 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Education Pre-K - 12, companion bill(s) passed, see...
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/1/2025
Referred to Education Pre-K - 12; Appropriations Committee on...
11/10/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 1003.42
+139 / −0