CLEARWATER, Fla. — A proposal that would provide kids with free swimming lessons cleared the Senate last week, and another version is moving through the House.

What You Need To Know

  • The Swimming Lesson Voucher Program would set up a system to cover the cost of swimming lessons for children in low income families

  • Senate Bill 544 would set aside a half-million dollars for the voucher program, with families earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line qualifying.

  • Aquatic coordinator Jillian Sparks says the earlier a child can be trained to swim the better, especially in Florida.

If passed, the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program would set up a system to cover the cost of swimming lessons for children in low income families who are four years old and younger. 

The legislation has gained a lot of support, especially with the state reporting drowning as the leading cause of unintentional death for children in that age group.

The Long Center in Clearwater is unique in this area when it comes to price point. Ten dollars gets a child three weeks of swim lessons, which is six classes at the facility's Olympic sized pool.

Parents like Wendy Harris take part. With a sense of pride, she watched her daughter Scarlett splash in the pool.

“She loves swimming. I wish I would’ve actually got her in here earlier," Harris said. "I would’ve started her from the moment we could start because I would’ve done it immediately.”

Aquatic coordinator Jillian Sparks said the earlier the better, especially in Florida.

“It takes a matter of a couple seconds to lose track and next thing you know, there could be an emergency," she said.

That's why the Long Center is committed to making lessons accessible to all families. 

Fred Fisher, the founder of Clearwater For Youth, raised the money for the center years ago after losing his son in a drowning accident.

Sparks says 3,000 kids take part in the sessions each year.

“Our registration is at 7:30 a.m. on Saturdays and by 7:31, I already have at least 30 emails from parents still trying to get into them. So they’re extremely popular and they fill up very very quickly," she said.

The fact that the classes fill up so fast underscores the importance of both access and affordability, something the Swimming Lessons Voucher Program would expand on across the state.

Senate Bill 544 would set aside a half-million dollars for the voucher program, with families earning less than 200 percent of the federal poverty line qualifying.

That's about a maximum income of $60,000 a year for a family of four.