OKLAHOMA CITY – The full Senate has given approval to a measure ensuring Oklahoma public schools will include instruction in cursive handwriting. House Bill 3727, by Senate principal author, Kevin Matthews, D-Tulsa, and House principal author, Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, was approved with bipartisan support on Tuesday.
“Even though children are learning keyboarding from an early age, there is still a need for instruction in cursive handwriting,” Matthews said. “Research tells us it can improve children’s motor skills, improve neural connections, and encourage faster writing speed. It reinforces learning and can enhance intelligence.”
HB 3727 will require that beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each public school district and charter school must provide instruction in cursive handwriting for students in the third through fifth grades.
Lowe pointed out that additional benefits of learning cursive writing include improved grammar and spelling, but also help children to read historical and primary source documents, such as the Declaration of Independence.
“I am thrilled that HB 3727 has passed off the Senate floor with a vote of 41-5,” Lowe said. “We are one step closer to requiring cursive writing instruction for third through fifth graders in Oklahoma schools.”
The measure now goes to the governor for his consideration.
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