Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to amend education statutes in Minnesota to incorporate mandatory water safety instruction into the health curriculum. The goal is to improve student safety around water and help prevent drowning incidents.

Main Provisions

• Water Safety Instruction: Schools are required to include culturally responsive and age-appropriate water safety education in their health curriculum. This is intended to reduce the risk of drowning among students.

• Swimming Instruction for Grade 3: Schools with access to a swimming pool must provide at least eight weeks of swimming lessons to all third-grade students. These lessons should be led by qualified staff who are trained to address social and financial barriers preventing students from learning to swim.

• Opt-out Provisions: Parents or guardians may opt their child out of swimming instruction if the child cannot participate due to physical disabilities or past water-related trauma.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• A specific requirement has been added for water safety and swimming lessons to be a part of the health curriculum. Previously, swimming lessons and water safety education were not mandated.

• Instruction must be culturally responsive, with efforts made to address and mitigate social, financial, and emotional barriers to swimming.

Relevant Terms

• Water safety instruction
• Drowning prevention
• Culturally responsive curriculum
• Swimming lessons
• Opt-out provisions
• Health curriculum amendment