This bill mandates that public schools in New Jersey provide instruction on cursive handwriting for students in grades kindergarten through five. Specifically, it requires boards of education to implement age-appropriate learning activities and resources that ensure students can read cursive documents and write in cursive by the end of grade three. The bill emphasizes the importance of cursive writing not only for historical literacy, as many foundational documents of the nation were written in cursive, but also for cognitive development, as research indicates that learning cursive engages multiple areas of the brain.

The act is set to take effect immediately and will first apply to the full school year following its enactment. By incorporating cursive instruction into the curriculum, the bill aims to equip students with essential skills for reading historical texts and signing documents, while also fostering cognitive and motor skill development through the practice of cursive writing.