NYC Funds Expansion of Free Swim Lessons for Second Graders

The New York City Council allocated $1.5 million to Wave Makers, expanding a program providing free swim lessons to public school second graders. The funding will increase the number of students served from 6,000 to 9,000, building on a two-year-old initiative launched with support from the Gray Foundation.

Councilmembers Julie Menin and Shekar Krishnan initially sponsored the legislation, recognizing swimming as a vital life skill given instances of drownings. Wave Makers partners with Asphalt Green and other organizations to offer lessons at 15 pools citywide, aiming to eventually provide universal swim instruction for all NYC second graders, an effort estimated to cost $45 million annually.

A report from Wave Makers indicates that 61% of participating students have parents or caregivers who cannot swim, highlighting the program’s potential to overcome generational barriers. Researchers found that 25 to 30 swim sessions are optimal for developing water safety skills and resilience.