Thousands of New York City students will soon have the chance to learn a life-saving skill for free.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin joined other council members and nonprofit leaders Tuesday at Lehman College's Apex Center Pool in the Bronx to announce a $1.5 million investment in the Wave Makers Initiative.

The funding, secured in the city's Fiscal Year 2027 budget, will provide nearly 60,000 free swim lessons for an additional 3,000 public school second graders across all five boroughs.

The Wave Makers program launched in 2024 and has already helped 6,000 second graders learn how to swim through partnerships with schools, nonprofits and public pools.

City leaders say the expansion comes as drowning continues to be a leading cause of accidental death among children. According to the program, about one in four young people in New York City do not know how to swim.

Parents say the free lessons also remove a financial barrier.

"I've been looking for swimming lessons, and they're very expensive," said parent Deshawn Dalmida. "I also almost drowned when I was nine, so I really wanted her to learn how to swim and my son as well."

Organizers say they hope to eventually make swim lessons available to every second grader in New York City's public schools.