El Monte will expand water-safety education for young students after receiving a grant from the LA84 Foundation that will fund lessons for approximately 1,400 second-grade pupils across 29 local elementary schools, city officials announced Thursday.
Local partnership to reach second graders
The funding is being awarded through the LA84 Foundation’s Learn to Swim initiative and will support a joint effort between the City of El Monte, the Mountain View School District and the El Monte City School District. City officials did not disclose the dollar amount awarded specifically to El Monte, but said the grant is part of $330,000 in LA84 funding for water-safety programs across Southern California.
City Manager Alma K. Martinez emphasized the program’s focus on safety rather than recreation. She said the effort will give young students “knowledge and skills that can protect them for the rest of their lives.”
“Learning to swim is more than a recreational opportunity — it is a life-saving skill that every child should have the opportunity to learn,” Alma K. Martinez said in a statement.
Scope and context
According to the city, the LA84-funded programs across the region are expected to reach about 10,000 young people. Officials also noted that more than 200,000 Southern California youths have taken part in swimming lessons through LA84-supported initiatives to date.
The El Monte program will concentrate on giving participating second graders a basic understanding of water safety. City officials cited research referenced by the LA84 Foundation from USA Swimming indicating that 45% of Latino children have little or no swimming ability — a statistic local leaders said underscores the importance of early instruction.
- Participants: roughly 1,400 second-grade students
- Coverage: 29 El Monte-area elementary schools
- Partners: City of El Monte, Mountain View School District, El Monte City School District
- Regional LA84 funding pool: $330,000 for water-safety education
Local implications and next steps
The program represents an effort by municipal leaders and school districts to address a public-safety concern through school-based instruction. By targeting second graders, officials aim to reach students at an age when basic swimming and safety skills can be introduced and reinforced.
Officials have framed the investment as preventive: early lessons may reduce drowning risk and increase long-term confidence around water. The announcement offers El Monte families an expanded avenue for children to access instruction that many families might otherwise find difficult to obtain.
City and school district representatives did not release a timeline for when classes will begin, how lessons will be scheduled within the school year, or details about instructors and facilities. The specific grant amount awarded to El Monte also was not disclosed.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Students served | About 1,400 second graders |
| Schools | 29 El Monte-area elementary schools |
| Regional LA84 funding | $330,000 for Southern California water-safety programs |
City officials said the program will concentrate on basic water-safety principles. Further operational details are expected to be released as the city and partnering districts finalize plans.
For El Monte families, the program could expand access to a skill that local leaders describe as vital to child safety. The LA84 Foundation has a longstanding record of supporting youth sports and aquatic education across the region; the latest round of funding will broaden that footprint within El Monte’s elementary schools.
