Over Half of US States Now Require Cursive Writing

Remember those loopy letters your grandparents wrote so effortlessly? Gen Alpha kids are learning them again, and their brains might thank them for it.

More than half of US states now require or strongly encourage schools to teach cursive handwriting, marking a dramatic reversal from the past decade. New Jersey and Pennsylvania joined about two dozen other states this year in passing laws that bring penmanship back to the classroom.

New Jersey stopped requiring cursive in 2010 but just enacted legislation mandating schools teach it to kids ages 8 to 11. California joined the movement in 2024, requiring first through sixth graders to learn cursive as part of public school curriculum.

The shift comes after years of computers dominating education. Common Core standards emphasized typing skills over handwriting, turning penmanship into something of a lost art for many young students.

But research suggests we might have lost something important along the way. A recent study published in the journal Nature found that handwriting activates the brain very differently than typing does.

The Bright Side

Handwriting fires up a broader network of brain regions involved in motor control, sensory perception, and cognitive processing. Typing, by contrast, engages fewer neural circuits and results in more passive cognitive engagement.

The researchers concluded that despite typing's advantages in speed and convenience, handwriting remains an important tool for learning and memory retention. This matters especially in educational settings where young brains are developing critical thinking skills.

The comeback isn't just about nostalgia for prettier note-taking. It's about giving kids' developing brains the richest possible learning experience.

As Gen Alpha grows up with both digital skills and handwriting abilities, they might just get the best of both worlds.