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Leising’s Campaign For Cursive Writing Continues

By Jeanie Lindsay, IPB News | Published on in Education, Government, Statewide News
Lawmakers passed legislation last year to ensure cursive writing remains an option for schools, after Sen. Jean Leising’s bill to require it failed to meet key legislative deadlines. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)
Lawmakers passed legislation last year to ensure cursive writing remains an option for schools, after Sen. Jean Leising’s bill to require it failed to meet key legislative deadlines. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

A Republican lawmaker who represents parts of Henry and Fayette counties is continuing in her nearly decade-long campaign to require Hoosier schools to teach cursive writing.

Sen. Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg) has filed a bill every legislative session since 2011 to require schools teach cursive writing, and her attempts usually find success in the Senate, but fall short in the House.

Read More: Survey Says Teachers Support Mandatory Cursive Writing Lessons

This year, her bill didn’t get an initial committee hearing in the Senate and died. But ahead of a key legislative deadline, Leising offered an amendment to a multi-purpose education bill to accomplish her goal. It would require all accredited elementary schools – private, public and charter – to include cursive writing in their curriculum.

The Senate Education and Career Development Committee signed off on the change, and the full Senate approved the bill it’s included on this week.

Read More:  Researcher Pushes Back on Cursive Writing Op-Ed From Senator

The bill now goes back to the House for final consideration or more last minute changes, meaning the final form remains to be seen. And if past years are any indication of the cursive writing mandate’s fate, it likely won’t be looped into the final version.

Lawmakers have said they hope to wrap up this year’s legislative session by the end of next week.