Florida lawmakers OK Lincoln, Washington, cursive writing bills

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —

A directive requiring school districts to place portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in a “conspicuous place” within every public school is ready for Gov. Ron DeSantis.

On Thursday, the House voted 91-11 to accept a broad education measure (SB 182) involving teacher training and mentoring. This measure also included provisions from several bills, such as a requirement that elementary school students learn cursive writing.

Students would have to demonstrate cursive proficiency by the end of fifth grade.

The Senate voted 37-0 earlier on Thursday in support of the package.

Eleven House Democrats voted against the measure, as the bill also allows private schools enrolling 150 or fewer students to operate in commercial or mixed-use zoning districts without needing a special exception or land use change.

The House version of the bill was sponsored by Gainesville Democratic Rep. Yvonne Hinson.

The portrait proposal requires the Department of Education to select the portraits and make them available to each school district.

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