OKLAHOMA CITY — House Bill 3727, which require public and charter schools to provide classes in cursive handwriting was signed into law today by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt.
The bill was signed into law on April 23.
The instruction will be required for students in third through fifth grade and will begin in the 2024-2025 school year.
The bill, made by Senator Kevin Matthews (D-Tulsa) and Representative Jason Lowe (D-Oklahoma City), was approved with bipartisan support.
Matthews argues that although children are being taught keyboard and computer classes more and more, there is still a need for cursive lessons.
"Research tells us it can improve children’s motor skills, improve neural connections, and encourage faster writing speed. It reinforces learning and can enhance intelligence," Matthews said.
Lowe said that learning cursive can improve grammar and spelling and increase understanding of historical documents like the Declaration of Independence.
“I am very pleased that my legislation, House Bill 3727, is now law,” Lowe said. “Elementary students from 3rd through 5th grade will now benefit from learning to write in cursive. This important skill will help them in many ways throughout their lives. Learning cursive handwriting is proven to improve students’ neural and motor function, as well as their grammar, handwriting, and spelling. It can also assist them with reading historical documents.”
“I feel that children should be able to uniquely sign their name, read historical documents and understand what their grandparents and relatives have written in the past,” Matthews added.
A release from the Oklahoma House Democratic Caucus claims that, as of 2024, 24 states require cursive instruction.
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