Youth programs & schools
Consistent priorityOut-of-school programs, mentoring, early education and school-based supports for children and teens.
Residents consistently ask for affordable after-school and summer programs, safe youth spaces, better-funded school buildings and food, child care, and tutoring and college access.
Theme grouped and summary written with AI from this theme's resident ideas.
281 ideas across three cycles
| Cycle | Ideas | Share of all ideas | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–25 | 81 | 6.6% | 3 of 20 |
| 2025–26 | 87 | 7.2% | 4 of 20 |
| 2026–27 | 113 | 8.5% | 4 of 20 |
Needs that keep coming back
Affordable after-school, before-school and summer programs
Residents want free or low-cost programs, including before-school care for working parents and options for older teens, available at schools and community centers.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Safe places and activities for youth and teens
Residents say young people have few places to go and ask for centers, teen spaces, sports and mentoring to keep them engaged and out of trouble.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Better school funding, buildings and food
Residents ask for more money for schools, repairs and cooling or ventilation, supplies, and fresher, better school lunches.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Affordable child care
Residents ask for free, subsidized or voucher-based child care so working and single parents can keep their jobs.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
Free tutoring, test prep and college access
Residents want free tutoring, SAT and exam prep, and scholarship help so lower-income students have the same chances as peers with private support.
Raised in 2024–25, 2025–26, 2026–27
2024–25
Ideas were wide-ranging, covering school resources and facilities, free indoor playgrounds, college and scholarship help, mentoring, and playground renovations at specific Dorchester schools.
2025–26
Affordable before- and after-school programs for working parents and complaints about school lunches and missing air conditioning were the most common themes.
2026–27
Volume rose to 113 ideas, many short general asks for education funding and youth programs, along with school lunch complaints from students, swim lessons, and youth money-management and career programs.
New in 2026–27
Free swim lessons, reusing old East Boston police stations as youth centers, new or renovated schools in Allston-Brighton, and student reports of pests in school lunches stand out as new or growing.
Funding so far
The winning projects, grants for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and financial literacy workshops, address two narrower asks, but no winning project yet covers the recurring asks for affordable after-school and summer programs, child care, school buildings and food, or tutoring.
Projects are linked to themes by matching each project's description to the themes; this is not an official City classification.
Programs Supporting Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Youth
2024–25 · $250,000
This proposal will offer grants to nonprofit organizations to support youth ages 14-21 who are formerly or currently incarcerated, helping them build a brighter future.
Youth Financial Literacy and Empowerment Workshops
2025–26 · $250,000
This proposal provides financial literacy workshops at youth job sites, local events, and colleges for young people ages 14-24.
Departments that often lead this work
- Boston Public Schools
- BCYF
Suggested with AI; not an official assignment of responsibility.
Ideas in Youth programs & schools
281 ideas
2024–25: 81 · 2025–26: 87 · 2026–27: 113
- Easier after-school vouchers for low-income single mothersResident asks for easier access to vouchers for after-school programs for single and low-income mothers, to help those who are working or looking for work.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Prioritize education in city spendingMake education the top priority in city spending.2026–27RoxburySubmitted in Korean
- Enhance after-school program opportunitiesImprove and expand after-school program opportunities for youth.2026–27RoxburySubmitted in Korean
- Expand children's museum programsExpand programs offered by children's museums.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Improve school facilitiesImprove the condition of school facilities.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Expand after-school programsExpand after-school programs for children and teens.2026–27RoxburySubmitted in Korean
- Sailing classes for Boston youth under 18Offer sailing classes to Boston residents under 18 so young people can access recreation that might otherwise be unavailable to them.2026–27Jamaica Plain
- Free high-quality pre-K for children in povertyThe resident asks for a free, high-quality pre-K program with small classes, highly trained teachers and family case management for children in poverty, to close opportunity gaps.2026–27City-wide
- Free or low-cost year-round test prep centerThe resident asks for a free or low-cost standardized test prep center (SAT, GRE, LSAT, GMAT) for low-income residents who may lack test preparation in their schools.2026–27City-wide
- More childcare subsidiesIncrease childcare subsidies to make childcare accessible to all communities regardless of background.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean
- Teen centers in all public librariesCreate teen centers like the one at Copley library in every branch, offering study areas, group activities and mental health resources.2026–27City-wide
- Free enrichment classes and swim lessons for youthOffer free or subsidized music, sports and enrichment classes and free swim lessons at all levels, since costs are out of reach for many families.2026–27City-wide
- Direct funds to non-exam BPS schoolsSend funding to Boston Public Schools, with less going to exam schools, to improve school quality and raise graduation and college acceptance rates.2026–27City-wide
- Restore BPS funding, bike safety, transit, community groceriesResident asks to restore Boston Public Schools budget cuts, build safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure, fund the MBTA toward free reliable transit, and establish community grocery stores.2026–27City-wide
- Landscaped front area at Henderson Upper SchoolResident asks for a more beautifully landscaped front entrance with flowering plants at Henderson Upper School to relax students and benefit the neighborhood.2026–27Dorchester
- Teen programs, sports centers and cleaner streets in DorchesterResident asks for more sports centers, free swim lessons, after-school arts, free year-round teen gym memberships, cleaner streets and more green space in Dorchester and Ashmont to give teens more opportunities.2026–27Dorchester
- Community centers as social spaces for childrenResident asks for community centers where children have a third place to socialize, so they do not turn to gang violence.2026–27City-wide
- Expand the Parent Mentor Program in schoolsResident asks to expand the Parent Mentor Program, which pays parents a living wage to support classrooms and take leadership and workforce training, benefiting multilingual and low-income families.2026–27City-wide
- Volunteer tutors in libraries for struggling studentsThe resident asks for trained volunteer tutors in libraries to help BPS students who are failing or at risk of failing courses, so they can graduate and enter the workforce.2026–27City-wide
- Pilot for dietitians and fresh local school mealsResident proposes a pilot bringing dietitians and fresh, local meals to Boston schools, inspired by Japan, to improve childhood nutrition and long-term health and academic success.2026–27City-wide