Reading, writing and arithmetic used to be school standards but then cursive began disappearing from many schools as literacy and math became the main focus.
But now, in Pennsylvania, cursive handwriting is a priority again and Erie County school districts are implementing it in classrooms for the 2026-27 school year.
"Our goal is not simply for students to learn how to form cursive letters, but to give them another valuable tool for written communication while supporting the broader developmental benefits that come with handwriting instruction," Hilary Gehrlein, a supervisor of curriculum for the Millcreek Township School District, said via email.
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Act No. 2 of 2026 on Feb. 11. The legislation amends the state's Public School Code to include print, joined italics and cursive handwriting among the subjects to be taught in every public and private elementary school.
Cursive began disappearing from schools in the early 2000s, according to the California Learning Resource Network. Factors included curriculum focused on reading, mathematics, and argumentative and informational writing rather than cursive writing and the growth of digital tools such as computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.
Poll results: We asked if you thought cursive handwriting belonged back in Pennsylvania schools. See what you said
Supporters of cursive's return have said that learning it activates areas of the brain involved in executive function, fine motor skills and working memory and it would be beneficial when completing important documents.
Four Erie County school districts shared their plans for cursive during the 2026-27 school year. Several others didn't respond to requests from the Erie Times-News for information.
Fairview: Superintendent Donald Stark said the district worked hard this summer to make sure its English language arts resource, the Core Knowledge Language Arts or CKLA curriculum for elementary school students, meets Fairview's writing needs. Teachers were reviewing the resources and developing lessons to ensure cursive writing is happening, he said.
General McLane: Superintendent Matthew Lane said formal cursive instruction will happen in third grade as part of the Emerge curriculum. His district is piloting it this year with all students in third grade at McKean and Edinboro elementary schools. Lane said there are also practice opportunities for cursive in grades two, four and five before becoming formalized next year.
Millcreek: Gehrlein said cursive will be taught through direct instruction in both second and third grades, with continued opportunities for practice and reinforcement throughout the remaining elementary, middle and high school grades.
"We're excited about this addition because research supports the positive connections between handwriting instruction and the development of fine motor skills, as well as other foundational learning skills," she said. "Introducing cursive in second and third grade gives students an opportunity to build those skills at an appropriate developmental stage, while continued support in later elementary grades will help students develop fluency and confidence."
Wattsburg: Superintendent Sandra Means said cursive writing is being taught in third grade through the district's Fundations program. Fundations incorporates the science of reading and writing to address critical foundational skills, spelling and handwriting in a multimodal, structured literacy approach for all students, she said.
Dana Massing can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County school districts implement cursive handwriting instruction