S.C. Oks $28 Million to Teach Cursive Writing

A Senate panel narrowly advanced a bill requiring South Carolina's school districts to teach students how to write in cursive by fifth grade after questioning its $27.6 million price tag.

Senators sent it to the full Education Committee Thursday on a 3-2 vote. The budget office has estimated districts would have to spend $25 million on instructional materials and $2.5 million on travel for teacher training.

Republican Sen. Ray Cleary of Murrells Inlet says that's ridiculous. He says every elementary school teacher should know how to write in cursive, and students only need a pad of paper.

The estimate is being revised and is expected to be much lower.

State standards haven't required cursive writing in the classroom since 2008.

The subcommittee postponed the mandate's effective date to 2015-16.