Revival of Cursive in California: A Response to Its Decline in the Digital Era

By Daniel Trotta

FULLERTON, California – A new generation of children accustomed to typing on screens is now returning to traditional writing methods.

Beginning this year, California elementary school students are mandated to learn cursive handwriting after its use declined in the digital age.

Assembly Bill 446, introduced by former elementary school teacher Sharon Quirk-Silva and enacted in October, requires handwriting instruction for approximately 2.6 million students in grades one through six, typically ages 6 to 12. Cursive lessons are designated for "appropriate" grade levels, which generally starts in third grade.

Experts highlight that cursive writing fosters cognitive development, enhances reading comprehension, and improves fine motor skills, among other advantages. Additionally, some educators find it valuable for teaching children how to read historic documents and letters from previous generations.

At Orangethorpe Elementary School in Fullerton, roughly 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles, fourth to sixth-grade teacher Pamela Keller has been teaching cursive even before the law came into effect on January 1.

While some students express frustration with the challenge of cursive, Keller provides motivation.

"We tell them, well, it’s going to make you smarter and help you connect different parts of your brain," Keller explained. "That excites them because students naturally want to be smarter and eager to learn."

During a cursive lesson, Keller offered gentle reminders such as "Lighten up a little – do it really gently… An eraser is our best friend… That loop is wonderful. I love that loop."

In a recent library visit, one student became enthusiastic upon spotting an image of the U.S. Constitution from 1787, exclaiming, "It’s cursive!"

While several students acknowledged the struggle with specific letters, such as Z, they still found the subject enjoyable.

"I love it because it feels fancier, and it’s fun to learn new letters," said fourth-grader Sophie Guardia, age 9.

In teacher Nancy Karcher’s third-grade class, responses ranged from "It’s fun" and "It’s pretty" to "Now I can read my mom’s writing" and "It’s for my secrets."

Cursive Comeback

As keyboards and tablets became ubiquitous, cursive writing fell out of favor. When the national Common Core standards were introduced in 2010, cursive was notably absent.

"They stopped teaching kids how to form any letters at all. Teacher colleges are not preparing teachers to teach handwriting," said Kathleen Wright, founder of the Handwriting Collective, a nonprofit advocating for handwriting education.

However, cursive is making a resurgence. California has become the 22nd state to mandate cursive handwriting education and the 14th state to pass such a law since 2014. As of 2024, five states have also introduced cursive-related legislation.

Leslie Zoroya, reading language arts project director at the Los Angeles County Office of Education, noted that research indicates learning cursive enhances several interconnected skills that support childhood development.

"Using different neural pathways when practicing cursive rather than printing creates distinct connections in the brain," Zoroya explained. "It also aids in retaining information related to letter formation and encourages students to think about the sounds associated with each letter as they write."

Quirk-Silva was motivated to introduce the bill after a 2016 conversation with former Governor Jerry Brown, who, upon learning of her teaching background, urged her: "You need to bring back cursive writing."

While California’s educational standards included cursive goals, Quirk-Silva expressed concerns about inconsistent instruction and its overall decline.

"The aim of the legislation is for students to be able to read and write in cursive by the time they finish sixth grade," Quirk-Silva stated.