(Indianapolis, Ind.) - Cursive writing is closer to being required by law in Indiana schools.
The state Senate Education Committee passed the bill Wednesday on a 10-0 vote. The legislation authored by Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) now heads to the full Senate for consideration.
The Indiana Department of Education announced last year it would no longer require cursive writing as part of the Common Core Curriculum. That leaves the decision on whether or not students learn cursive writing to each school district.
“While keyboarding has grown as a needed course for students in this digital age, cursive writing is a must-have skill as well,” Leising said. “What will happen when we’re still writing notes in long-hand and future interns or job applicants can’t read our writing to complete a simple task? Wouldn’t it be unfortunate if Indiana residents could no longer read the original U.S. Constitution? This legislation would help young Hoosiers avoid these complications in the future.”
The education committee also passed two other school-related bills.
One of those pieces of legislation would require schools to start their year no earlier than the fourth Monday in August.
Also passing was another bill authored by Sen. Leising to allow private-school students enrolling in eighth grade to receive tuition assistance from a scholarship granting organization.
These students would be subject to income eligibility standards used by the Indiana Department of Education and would then be qualified for high school scholarships if they continued to meet the income guidelines.
“I have more than 2,000 elementary students in my district that attend private elementary schools,” Leising said. “However, it’s much more expensive for these children to attend private high schools and many parents who have put their students in the private elementary schools can’t afford to continue to do so for grades nine through 12. I’d like to help them continue to have the choice to do what they think is best for their kids.”
Leising added that her legislation has no state fiscal impact.
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