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House committee hears bill to require a semester of logic and critical thinking for high school graduation

New Hampshire House Education Committee · January 14, 2026

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Summary

Sponsor Ellen Reed told the House Education Committee HB 1524 would add a semester of logic and critical thinking to graduation requirements; DOE and State Board witnesses said similar requirements were adopted in ED 306 rulemaking and take effect in 2026–27, prompting questions about redundancy and fiscal implications.

Representative Ellen Reed introduced HB 1524, arguing that a dedicated semester of logic and critical thinking would teach students how to analyze evidence and reason clearly. She read the bill's proposed definition: "Critical thinking means the skill and understanding and seeking out the appropriate kinds of evidence needed to support or challenge a given argument...the habit of questioning the evidence, rationale, and motivation of one's own and others' beliefs."

Department of Education testimony from Nate Green and State Board chair Drew Klein noted that logic and rhetoric had been added to the state's list of required subjects and that the ED 306 rules already require a half‑credit (semester) course and competency integration across subjects to take effect in the 2026–27 school year. Green said the department "doesn't see a lot of differences between what's being requested here and what's already required of high schools." Klein said the rulemaking had been through a multi‑year update and the half‑credit requirement was intended to be flexible about how districts demonstrate the credit.

Questions from committee members focused on the fiscal note (content and standards development estimated in testimony variously at $1,000,000), whether the requirement is meant to be an additional, standalone course or could be embedded as a credit, and how the proposal interacts with the state's competency‑based credit model. The sponsor said she will offer clarifying amendments to preserve existing integrated instruction while adding a semester requirement and suggested grandfathering current arrangements where districts already meet the competency standards.

Public testimony (Mary Wilson, Laurie Korzen and others) raised implementation timing, staffing and curriculum development concerns and urged careful consideration of how competencies are assessed. No vote was taken; the committee closed the hearing to collect additional technical input and fiscal detail.