Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the return of phonics and cursive writing to Texas classrooms during his address at the 2026 Texas Republican Party Convention. The move aims to improve education standards in the state.

Education Priorities

Abbott emphasized the importance of education, stating that Texas must be number one in educating its children. He highlighted the state’s achievements, including the largest day-one school choice program in the United States and the largest teacher pay raise in Texas history.

The return to phonics and cursive writing is part of a broader effort to improve the curriculum and provide students with essential skills. Research has shown that systematic phonics instruction can lead to improved reading outcomes, while cursive writing can aid in the development of fine motor skills, memory retention, and the ability to read historical documents.

The Texas State Board of Education reinstated cursive in the 2017 TEKS updates, and students now begin cursive instruction in second grade, with continued requirements through fifth grade. The implementation of enhanced phonics and cursive remains governed by the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and local districts under state oversight.

Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.