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 third grade. The bill emphasizes the cognitive benefits of learning cursive, noting that it engages multiple parts of the brain compared to typing or merely viewing letters.

The act is set to take effect immediately and will first apply to the full school year following its enactment. The inclusion of cursive instruction is aimed at equipping students with the ability to read important historical documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, which were originally drafted in cursive. This initiative seeks to address the decline in cursive writing skills due to the increasing reliance on technology in education.