House subcommittee advances bill to require cursive instruction for grades 2–5
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Summary
The Florida Student Success Academic Success Subcommittee voted 14–0 to report HB 127 favorably after Representative Overdorf described the bill’s requirement that students learn to form and read cursive and demonstrate proficiency by fifth grade.
Representative Overdorf introduced HB 127, which would add required instruction in cursive writing for students in grades 2 through 5 and define proficiency as the ability to form upper- and lower-case cursive letters, write words and sentences legibly with proper spacing and alignment, and read cursive in accordance with state academic standards. "Cursive writing isn't just a skill. It's a link to our heritage and a tool for lifelong learning," Overdorf told the committee.
Members questioned whether the bill creates an assessed proficiency or merely instruction. Overdorf said the bill defines proficiency (noted in the bill language cited during debate) and that a fifth-grade written requirement—already in statute—could include an essay written in cursive to demonstrate mastery. Committee members also asked whether the requirement applies to traditional public schools and charter schools; the sponsor confirmed the bill applies to all public schools.
Ryan Kennedy, representing the Florida Citizens Alliance, provided proponent testimony, saying the group "supported it last year and we're supporting it again this year," and emphasized benefits Kennedy attributed to handwriting practice such as improved hand-eye coordination and memory.
After brief debate and questions, the clerk called the roll. The vote was recorded as 14 yeas and 0 nays. Chair Rizzo announced that HB 127 "will be reported favorably." No amendments were offered in committee. Because the action in committee was to report the bill favorably, the next procedural step is placement on the committee/House calendar for further consideration according to House rules.
The committee also discussed implementation details raised during questioning—how proficiency would be demonstrated and where in a student's schedule cursive instruction might be placed—but no additional requirements or fiscal impacts were specified on the record. The committee did not take an implementation or assessment vote beyond reporting the bill favorably.