More than 25 U.S. states now mandate cursive instruction, sparking debate over its educational value

Since North Carolina’s 2013 law, more than 25 states—including Pennsylvania, Florida, California, and Michigan—require students to learn cursive by fifth grade. Lawmakers cite several reasons: the need to read historical documents, preserve family letters, and even deter students from using artificial intelligence for assignments. Proponents point to research showing that cursive activates brain pathways linked to learning and memory, can aid students with dyslexia and dysgraphia, and may boost early reading skills, as a 2019 study of first graders suggested. Critics argue that the evidence for cursive’s superiority over print is weak, that many teachers lack cursive training, and that the 70‑minute weekly instruction time strains already crowded curricula.