EDUCATION – Adds to existing law to provide for a cursive handwriting proficiency requirement in public schools.

This Idaho bill requires public schools to teach cursive handwriting starting in third grade, with students needing to write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. It mandates the state board to set benchmarks, provide teaching resources, and guide assessments for teachers. Schools must comply by the start of the 2025-2026 school year, with students who haven’t achieved proficiency receiving additional instruction. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, directly affecting all Idaho public school students in grades 3-5.