Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bipartisan bill in February requiring cursive handwriting to be taught in schools, emphasizing the importance of traditional skills alongside modern technology. The law will go into effect next month, giving students time to get back to basics before the new school year.
“Letting our kids be kids also means getting back to the basics,” Shapiro said in a post on X in late March. “That’s why, earlier this year, I signed into law a bipartisan bill that requires cursive handwriting to be taught in Pennsylvania schools. It may seem strange, but cursive handwriting is a fundamental skill that all of our kids should learn. They may not get why now, but that’s how they’ll sign their very first check — or maybe even someday, a bill that gets to the Governor’s desk (trust me, you’ll want good penmanship for that). And it means they spend more time with a pen — not a tablet — in their hands at school.”
Letting our kids be kids also means getting back to the basics.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) March 25, 2026
That’s why, earlier this year, I signed into law a bipartisan bill that requires cursive handwriting to be taught in Pennsylvania schools.
It may seem strange, but cursive handwriting is a…
The legislation, House Bill 17, amends Pennsylvania’s Public School Code to include cursive handwriting as part of the required curriculum for elementary schools. The law covers English instruction, spelling, reading, writing (including print, joined italics, and cursive), arithmetic, geography, U.S. and Pennsylvania history, civics, safety education, health and physical education, music, and art.
Shapiro said the measure is designed to give students a solid foundation in fundamental skills, even as classrooms increasingly integrate digital technology. Lawmakers argued that handwriting helps develop fine motor skills, memory retention, and literacy in ways that tablets and keyboards cannot fully replace.
The bill passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law in February as part of a package of six bills. Co-sponsors included Representatives Dane Watro, Milou Mackenzie, Jill Cooper, Bryan Cutler, Joe Hamm, Ed Neilson, Kathy Rapp, Rob Kauffman, and Robert Freeman, among others.
HB 17 will take effect 60 days after signing, ensuring that students across Pennsylvania will return to the basics of penmanship while continuing to learn in a modern, tech-driven classroom environment.
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