Years after it was omitted from the Common Core standards, some students are practicing cursive in clubs after school and in libraries. Some states are bringing it back to classrooms. Credit ...

ST. LOUIS — In 2010, more than 40 states adopted the same standards for English and math called the Common Core standards. Missouri and Illinois are among the states that have adopted the guidelines.

A group of students from five classrooms at an elementary school in Nelson, B.C., just competed in a North American handwriting contest, called Cursive is Cool, and took home 15 of the 42 awards.

The group of preteens uncapped their markers and began practicing how to capitalize two new letters: “B” and “Q.” The lesson felt like a return to the basics. Only this time, the middle-schoolers were ...