Ohio House bill would require cursive handwriting in elementary schools

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House began deliberations today on bipartisan legislation that would require students to complete coursework in handwriting.

"Cursive writing is not an outdated form of communication," Rep. Cheryl Grossman ,R-Grove City), a primary co-sponsor, told members of the chamber's Education Committee, where the legislation had its initial hearing. "As shorthanded communication such as text messaging and instant messaging become more prevalent, the need for children to learn cursive writing becomes more, not less, important."

HB 146 would require "handwriting instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade to ensure that students develop the ability to print letters and words legibly by third grade and create readable documents using legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade."