Rating: +1

Bill Summary:

Senate Bill 1044 creates Section 33-1638 of Idaho Code, requiring that all public school students in Idaho receive instruction in cursive handwriting and demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade. Instruction must begin no later than grade 3, and proficiency is defined as the ability to produce legible cursive writing.

The bill directs the Idaho State Department of Education to establish proficiency benchmarks, provide instructional guidelines and resources, and ensure consistent application across all districts. Students who do not demonstrate proficiency by the end of fifth grade must receive additional instruction. Full implementation is required beginning with the 2025–2026 school year. The bill includes an emergency clause and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Reason for Rating:

S1044 aligns strongly with the Idaho Republican Party Platform’s emphasis on core educational competencies, cultural literacy, and civic heritage. By requiring cursive instruction, the bill reinforces traditional academic skills and enables students to read and understand foundational American documents written in cursive, such as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. It supports local control over curriculum, imposes no federal oversight, and introduces no ideological content. Instead, it restores a basic skill rooted in American tradition and education. For these reasons, the bill earns a positive rating.