Indiana bill would require teaching cursive writing in schools

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana lawmakers are again considering a push to require the teaching of cursive writing by the state's schools.

The issue first came up after the state Department of Education in 2011 dropped cursive writing as a required part of the school curriculum and told school districts that it expected students to become proficient in keyboard use.

The state Senate's education committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Wednesday on a cursive writing bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Jean Leising of Oldenburg. The bill would require all public school districts and all accredited private elementary schools to teach cursive.

The state Senate approved a similar bill last year, but it didn't advance in the House.