In the land of 10,000 lakes — and thousands more rivers, ponds and pools — Minnesota kids need lessons in water safety.

That's why the recent recommendations of a work group convened by the state Department of Education should be well-received by state lawmakers. It suggests that all public school students have access to swimming or other water-safety instruction as part of physical-education requirements.

To determine what that would take, researchers took inventory of school swimming resources and found that only about half of all middle schools and about 29 percent of high schools in Minnesota own and operate their own pools. The study estimated that it would cost more than $550 million to provide pools and lessons for all students.

That's a sobering reality check for a public education system with so many needs. It's also unnecessary to make that kind of investment when, as the report wisely suggests, many schools can form partnerships with nearby organizations that already have aquatic programs. There are great models for that approach, including Minneapolis South High School's partnership with the Midtown YWCA.

To expand those kinds of cooperative efforts, the study suggests that the state provide some incentive funding. Another recommendation urges that state standards for student water-safety instruction include drowning prevention education. Some programs can teach kids to be competent swimmers, while others can focus on the basics of staying safe and learning how to float. Another approach to drowning prevention includes education for parents and caregivers.

The report was prepared at the request of state representatives in response to several drownings in recent years, including one at a school in St. Louis Park, Daron Korte, an assistant commissioner with Education Department, told the Star Tribune.

Water safety is especially important for children of color and children from low-income families. For example, African-Americans ages 5-19 drown in swimming pools at rates 5.5 times higher than whites, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The state study suggests focusing outreach efforts on high-risk populations, including immigrants.

The CDC reports that for every child who drowns, another five who survive receive emergency medical care for nonfatal injuries. Those injuries can include severe brain damage resulting in long-term disability.

The alarming statistics make the case for improved water-safety instruction for Minnesota kids. Improved outreach to vulnerable communities — as well as smart collaboration between schools and those organizations that operate pools that can be used for instruction — can save young lives.