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Bill

MD

Bill

A 3768

Requires provision of water safety instruction as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Margie Donlon and 3 co-sponsors

New Jersey bill requires water safety instruction in all school health and PE curricula to reduce drowning deaths and ensure equitable access to life-saving swimming skills.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Education Committee
#curricula #watersupply
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Bill Summary · A 3768

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 3768 mandates that water safety instruction be incorporated into New Jersey's Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. This would make water safety education a required component of the state's standardized health and PE curriculum rather than an optional or locally-determined element. The bill applies across all public school grades and levels.

Why is this important

Drowning remains a leading cause of unintentional injury death for children and young adults, with disparities in drowning rates among certain demographic groups. Standardizing water safety instruction statewide could provide equitable access to life-saving skills—such as swimming ability, water awareness, and rescue techniques—regardless of a student's zip code or school district resources. This addresses a significant public health gap where water safety education currently varies widely by district.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Schools may face expenses for pool access, instructor training, or certification, raising questions about funding mechanisms and burden on districts with limited budgets
  • Curriculum crowding: Adding mandatory content to already full health/PE curricula could displace other lessons or require reallocation of instructional time
  • Equity of access: Schools without pools or aquatic facilities may struggle to deliver meaningful water safety instruction, potentially creating new disparities despite standardization intent

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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