MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Education

By: Senator(s) Hill, Barnett, Blackwell, Chassaniol, Dearing, Fillingane, Harkins, Hudson, Jackson (11th), Jolly, Kirby, Massey, McDaniel, Parker, Seymour, Turner-Ford, Watson, Witherspoon, Younger

Senate Bill 2273

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ENSURE INSTRUCTION IN CURSIVE WRITING AS A PART OF THE BASIC ELEMENTARY EDUCATION CURRICULUM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  The State Board of Education is authorized and directed to require all public school districts to meet the following elementary education curriculum standard:  The standard course of study shall include the requirement that the public schools provide instruction in cursive writing so that students create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of the fifth grade, and that students pass with proficiency a teacher-constructed test demonstrating the students competency in both reading and writing cursive.  This requirement shall be applicable beginning with the 2018-2019 school year.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.