State Board Of Education Gives Cursive Instruction A Nod Of Support

Cursive handwriting instruction is getting a nod of support from the Kansas Board of Education.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the board unanimously adopted a statement encouraging educators to ensure students can write legibly in cursive and comprehend text written in cursive.

In a separate 8-2 vote, the board ordered the department to develop model cursive standards. Kansas Department of Education spokeswoman Kathy Toelkes says the standards would establish things like curriculum guidelines and best practices.

Toelkes says the measures won support because of research showing the role handwriting plays in cognitive development.

A survey discussed at last month’s board meeting found that most Kansas elementary students are still learning cursive writing but that interest in teaching the subject has begun to wane.