Bill > SF3176

This bill requires Minnesota school districts to include water safety instruction in their health curriculum, with a particular focus on grade 3 students. For school districts with access to a swimming pool, the bill mandates at least eight weeks of swim instruction for third-grade students, with specific requirements to address barriers that might prevent students from learning to swim. These barriers include financial challenges (such as the cost of hair maintenance after swimming or purchasing swimwear), historical fears or trauma related to swimming, and shame-inducing comparisons between students with different swimming backgrounds. The instruction must be culturally responsive and age-appropriate, and must be led by staff who have received professional development to create an inclusive curriculum. Parents can opt their child out of swim instruction if the student is physically unable to participate or has experienced water-related trauma. The bill will become effective for the 2026-2027 school year, giving school districts time to prepare and develop appropriate swimming instruction programs. Additionally, the bill requires early childhood developmental screenings to now include information about a child's enrollment in swim instruction programs if such programs are available.

Education

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF3176&ssn=0&y=2025