What's happening
This bill requires New York public schools to teach cursive writing and memorization of multiplication tables as part of the curriculum.
Why it matters
Mandates early mastery of foundational skills. By requiring legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade, the bill aims to ensure all students develop a skill linked to fine motor development, historical literacy (reading older documents), and personal signature formation.
Standardizes math competency benchmarks. Requiring memorization of multiplication tables sets a uniform statewide expectation, which could help address gaps in basic math fluency that impact later learning in more advanced mathematics.
Shifts curriculum priorities. The law may result in reallocating instructional time and teacher training to accommodate these requirements, potentially affecting how other subjects are taught or prioritized in elementary classrooms.
Immediate statewide impact. With an effective date for the next school year after passage, schools and districts would need to quickly adapt curricula and teaching materials, which could present logistical and budgetary challenges.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Teach Cursive and Multiplication Tables
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Held for consideration in education
- Print number 2701a
- Amend and recommit to education
- Referred to education
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Teach Cursive and Times Tables
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Chris Jacobs
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2701--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, GALEF, MOSLEY, MONTESANO, DiPIETRO, RAIA -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ARROYO, COOK, CROUCH, GOTT- FRIED, McDONOUGH, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, RIVERA, TITONE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education -- recommitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to requiring instruction in cursive writing and memorization of multiplication tables as part of the basic education program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding two new sections 817 and 818 to read as follows:
§ 817. Courses of instruction in cursive writing. The standard course of study shall include the requirement that public schools provide instruction in cursive writing so that students create readable documents through legible cursive handwriting by the end of fifth grade.
§ 818. Instruction relating to multiplication tables. The standard course of study shall include the requirement that students enrolled in public schools memorize multiplication tables to demonstrate competency in efficiently multiplying numbers.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to school years commencing on the first of July next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03432-03-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.