STATEHOUSE (Feb. 5, 2013) — The full Senate today approved State Sen. Jean Leising’s (R-Oldenburg) legislation to require cursive writing and reading in Indiana elementary school curriculum. Senate Bill 120 passed by a 36-13 vote.

With the move to align state education standards with Common Core Standards, cursive writing became an optional part of school curriculum in 2011.

However, some child psychologists, doctors and researchers point out that neuro-imaging scans show finger movement associated with handwriting activates regions in the brain linked to cognitive, language and even motor processes. 

“Senate Bill 120 is about more than teaching our students to read and write cursive in the future,” Leising said. “Cursive writing is proven to encourage and strengthen other types of learning, all of which are important to child development. As a member of the Education and Career Development committee, I’m working to ensure Indiana students are receiving a well-rounded education.”

At least five other states — Alabama, California, Georgia, Kansas and Massachusetts — have already passed cursive writing curriculum requirements.

Leising said her legislation would also require reading as a part of Indiana elementary school curriculum because State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz informed her that “language arts” is the subject required by Indiana code and “reading” is not specified.

To date, 13 other senators have signed their support to Leising’s cursive writing legislation as coauthors. SB 120 now moves to the Indiana House of Representatives for consideration.

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