Taking the Classroom to the Pool: Cleveland State University and AquaMissions Partner to Provide Water Safety Education for Cleveland Schools

AquaMissions takes the classroom to the pool.

Press Release 9/24/24

CLEVELAND — As the school bells ring and students return to their classrooms, Cleveland State University (CSU) and AquaMissions are taking education to an unexpected place—the pool. This new partnership aims to teach 2,500 Cleveland Metropolitan Schools’ 4th graders essential water safety skills and swim instruction at CSU's state-of-the-art aquatics center, integrating critical life skills into their curriculum. AquaMissions is a local nonprofit dedicated to saving and changing lives through water safety and swim instruction.

Stephanie Brooks, dean of the College of Health at CSU, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership. "We are pleased to welcome CMSD scholars to our campus. Providing them with access to our world-class aquatics facilities and expertise is a significant step in equipping our youth with life-saving skills and reducing drowning accidents and deaths in our region."

As part of this collaboration, CSU will also conduct life-saving research on the effectiveness of water safety education and the long-term impact of swim instruction on youth. These studies will contribute to a broader understanding of how early swim education can reduce drowning risks and improve overall health outcomes in urban communities.

This initiative is especially important given that drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among children, disproportionately affecting minority communities. According to cross-sectional research, 57.5 percent of Black youth and 56.2 percent of LatinX youth are unable to swim or feel uncomfortable in the deep end of a pool. Furthermore, Black and Brown children aged 10-14 are at an eightfold greater risk of drowning compared to their White peers, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for programs like AquaMissions that aim to break down barriers to water safety and swimming proficiency for our lakefront community’s minority youth.

“I recently witnessed a near-drowning of a young boy and his mother who went under trying to save him. No lifeguards were present, so I and two others rushed to their aid – and just in time. It was terrifying. I am grateful to have this partnership to save lives for our scholars,” says Desiree Powell, Executive Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics at Cleveland Metropolitan School District. “This partnership with AquaMissions and CSU is pivotal to ensuring that every scholar can learn this vital life skill. I am grateful for the many hands that are making this happen.”

"Our collaboration with Cleveland State University is a cornerstone of our broader effort to save and change lives through equitable access to swimming instruction through school-based programming," said Dr. Lynne Nagy, Founder and CEO of AquaMissions. "Learning to swim is as essential as learning to read, and we are committed to making it a reality for every child in Cleveland."

As AquaMissions prepares to roll out this program, the organization is seeking additional support from public and private stakeholders to expand its reach and impact. The partnership with CSU marks a significant milestone in creating a sustainable and repeatable model for school-based swim instruction that can serve as a standard for communities across the country.