Establishes a water safety swim instructor certification exam and water safety swim instruction and free swim lessons in schools in a city with a population of one million or more.
Summary
S09826 would amend the Education Law to create a new state-administered water safety swim instructor certification exam and, for school districts in a city with a population of one million or more, require the establishment of free water safety swim courses. The Department of Education would be directed to administer the certification exam annually to teachers seeking to become certified in water safety swim instruction, and it could also create a preparation course to help teachers qualify.
The bill also requires that any certified teacher may teach water safety within the same district of employment. In the affected large-city school districts, the free course would be offered annually and, where practicable, year-round, under the direction and advisement of the department. Instruction would cover water hazards, drowning prevention, stroke mechanics, and swimming techniques, with the stated goal of improving water safety education for students.
Impact
The bill would add two new sections to the Education Law, creating a statewide certification framework for water safety swim instructors and imposing a specific program mandate on school districts in cities with populations of one million or more. In practice, this would primarily affect New York City school districts and the Department of Education, which would need to develop the exam, potentially a prep course, and oversee implementation of the swim instruction requirement. It would also create a new pathway for teachers to become certified to teach water safety and expand school-based access to swim lessons without charge.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition in the available record. Based on the bill text and caption, the measure appears framed as a public safety and youth education initiative, suggesting a generally positive policy intent centered on drowning prevention and swimming access. However, the absence of discussion or voting history means the overall legislative sentiment cannot be assessed beyond the bill’s stated purpose.
Contention
The main policy issues likely to arise are implementation and resource burdens on large-city school districts, especially the requirement to provide free annual swim instruction and, where practicable, year-round programming. Questions may also arise about staffing, certification standards, facility access, and whether the mandate should apply only to cities of one million or more rather than statewide. Because the bill is limited to a single population threshold, any debate would likely focus on equity, feasibility, and the cost of expanding swim instruction in urban school systems.
Establishes a free lifeguard training program in high schools in a city with a population of one million or more and covers all fees and costs of a state-approved lifeguard certification exam for any student upon completion of the training program.
Establishes a mandatory statewide, classroom-based water safety education program; provides that the commissioner of education shall work with New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance certified educators to develop and promulgate a statewide, age-appropriate, classroom-based water safety education guidance document; provides that within twenty-four months of the effective date of the bill, the department of education shall initiate statewide implementation of water safety education; provides that instruction shall be classroom-based and waterless and shall not require student access to aquatic facilities, swimming instruction, or in-water assessment.
Establishes a mandatory statewide, classroom-based water safety education program; provides that the commissioner of education shall work with New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance certified educators to develop and promulgate a statewide, age-appropriate, classroom-based water safety education guidance document; provides that within twenty-four months of the effective date of the bill, the department of education shall initiate statewide implementation of water safety education; provides that instruction shall be classroom-based and waterless and shall not require student access to aquatic facilities, swimming instruction, or in-water assessment.