This bill mandates the Iowa Department of Education to develop and administer a voluntary pilot program that allows school districts and charter schools to provide instruction in logic and critical thinking for students in grades six through eight. The program will be available during the school years starting July 1, 2027, and July 1, 2028. Schools can offer this instruction as a stand-alone course, an elective, or as part of existing curricula, but participation is voluntary, and there is no requirement for students to complete the instruction unless the school decides otherwise.

The curriculum for the pilot program must be skills-based and viewpoint-neutral, ensuring that it does not promote specific political, ideological, or social positions. It will cover various topics, including basic principles of logic, identification of logical fallacies, rhetorical principles, debate skills, and problem-solving strategies. Participating schools are required to submit annual reports to the Department of Education detailing the implementation of the program, student engagement, and challenges faced. The Department will compile these reports and provide an evaluation of the program's effectiveness to the General Assembly by December 1, 2029. The section establishing this pilot program will be repealed on July 1, 2031.