The bill aims to enhance civics education in Washington public schools by mandating the inclusion of cursive handwriting and signature development in the curriculum. It recognizes the decline in teaching cursive due to technological advancements and limited classroom time, which has left many students unable to produce a clear and consistent signature. The legislation emphasizes the importance of a legible signature for civic participation, as many official documents still require a handwritten signature. To address this, the bill introduces a new section that requires instruction on producing a legible, repeatable official cursive signature, along with an understanding of how signatures are used in electoral processes. This instruction is set to begin by the 2027-28 school year and aims to prepare students for active participation in democracy.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws related to civics education and ballot rejection rates. It specifies that civics courses must include various topics, such as government organization, citizen rights, and electoral issues, while also incorporating the new requirement for signature instruction. Furthermore, it mandates the Secretary of State to conduct a statewide survey on ballot rejection rates, including reasons for rejections related to signature mismatches, and to provide this data to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction for inclusion in civics education resources. This comprehensive approach seeks to ensure that students are equipped with essential skills for civic engagement and that election processes are transparent and standardized.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.230.094, 29A.60.300
Substitute bill: 28A.230.094, 29A.60.300