New Missouri Bills Could Make Cursive Writing Mandatory in Schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. –

Two lawmakers have introduced bills that would require students to learn cursive handwriting in Missouri schools.

Missouri State Reps. Renne Reuter (R-Imperial) and Petty McGaugh (R-Carrollton) have sponsored house bills 346 and 375, both of which would require cursive handwriting instruction and testing in Missouri schools by the end of fifth grade.

Both bills call for elementary schools to teach cursive writing and ensure that students demonstrate proficiency in reading cursive documents and writing in cursive by the end of fifth grade.

According to MyCursive.com, nearly half of all U.S. states require cursive handwriting in schools, but Missouri is not among them.

In 2022, the National Education Association collected feedback from both supporters and opponents of requiring cursive handwriting in schools. Supporters feel it’s an essential skill for students’ cognitive development and personal expression, while opponents feel it’s an outdated practice that may take time away from other subjects.

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Missouri’s newest push to require cursive in schools comes after a longtime proponent, former Democratic Missouri House member Gretchen Bangert, ran out of term limits. Bangert introduced several bills that have stalled in recent years.

Another proposal, SB 429 from Missouri State Sen. Curtis Trent, would give school districts and charter schools the option to provide instruction and tests over cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade but not require it.

Both of the bills that would require it have had two readings each on the Missouri House floor but are not currently scheduled for future hearings.

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