Overview
- Gov. Phil Murphy signed the bill Monday as one of his final acts, with Mikie Sherrill sworn in the next day.
- The mandate takes effect for the 2026–27 school year beginning in September and covers students in grades three through five.
- Schools must teach students to produce legible cursive and to read cursive fluently, per the statute.
- Sponsors Angela McKnight and Shirley Turner cite practical uses and learning benefits, including reading historical documents and signing financial forms.
- Education groups warn about lost instructional time and funding needs, even as New Jersey joins Delaware and roughly two dozen states with cursive requirements.