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Committee sends bill requiring cursive proficiency by end of fifth grade to the House floor
Summary
Senate Bill 1044 would require Idaho students to be proficient in cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade; the State Department of Education told the committee it does not view the bill as a major imposition on teachers. The committee voted to give the bill a due‑pass recommendation with one recorded nay.
Representative Tony Wisniewski presented Senate Bill 1044, which would require schools to ensure students are proficient in cursive by the end of fifth grade. Wisniewski said the bill would establish proficiency testing by the end of fifth grade and noted the State Department of Education reviewed the draft language.
Several committee members raised practical questions about how the proficiency assessment would be administered and whether it would create an administrative burden. Representative Mathias asked whether the committee would hear from the State Department of Education about assessment logistics. Christine Moriarty, policy director at the State Department of Education, testified that the department had reviewed the bill language, believed the standards are already part of teachers’ practice, and did not view the bill as a major imposition; she said the bill gives teachers discretion on testing and that the department supports the bill as drafted.
Representative Harris moved to send SB1044 to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The committee approved the motion; Representative Nelson recorded the sole nay.
