Requiring the department of education to develop and administer a pilot program that authorizes school districts and charter schools to offer instruction in logic and critical thinking

This bill requires the department of education (DE) to develop and administer a pilot program that authorizes school districts and charter schools to offer instruction in logic and critical thinking to students in grades six through eight. The pilot program is available for the school years beginning July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028. Under the bill, a participating school district or charter school may offer instruction in logic and critical thinking as a stand-alone course, an elective course, or an interdisciplinary course embedded within existing curricular offerings. Participation in the pilot program is voluntary, and a participating school district or charter school is not required to mandate student completion of the instruction unless otherwise determined by the school district or charter school. The bill requires that instruction provided pursuant to the pilot program be skills-based and viewpoint-neutral and prohibits the promotion or advocacy of specific political, ideological, or social positions. The bill provides that the curriculum must include instruction in basic principles of logic, identification and analysis of common logical fallacies, rhetorical principles, debate and discussion skills, basic problem-solving and decision-making strategies, distinguishing facts, opinions, and inferences, evaluation of claims based on evidence and reasoning, and the history and use of propaganda and persuasive techniques. The bill requires a participating school district or charter school, annually, on or before June 1 of each year during which a school district or charter school participates in the pilot program, to submit a report to DE containing information related to the implementation of instruction in logic and critical thinking, including feedback regarding curriculum design, instructional models, student engagement, challenges associated with implementation, and recommendations for continuation or expansion of the program. The report must also include any other information requested by DE to allow the department to monitor and assess the pilot program. The bill further requires DE, on or before December 1, 2029, to compile the reports submitted by participating school districts and charter schools and submit a report to the general assembly, the house standing committee on education, and the senate standing committee on education containing an evaluation of the effectiveness of the pilot program and any recommendations for continuation or expansion. The bill defines “logic and critical thinking” as the study and application of reasoning processes, including deductive and inductive reasoning, argument analysis, identification of fallacies, and structured decision making.20, July 1, 2031.