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
- More funding for advanced high school classesResident asks for more funding for high school classes such as dual enrollment, chemistry labs and AP courses.2025–26City-wide
- Improve quality of school lunchesResident asks for better-tasting school lunches, saying attempts to make meals healthy sometimes leave them unappetizing.2025–26City-wide
- CPR/AED classes in schools and AED installationTeach CPR, first aid and AED use in grammar schools, install AEDs with a locator app, and offer ServSafe classes to high school students.2025–26City-wide
- Expand after-school funding at all BPS schoolsIncrease funding for after-school programs at all Boston Public Schools locations.2025–26City-wide
- Anti-bullying curriculum for students and teachersCreate an anti-bullying curriculum covering inclusion, emotional intelligence, cyber safety and suicide prevention to build safe, inclusive schools and reduce bias-based bullying.2025–26City-wide
- Better splash pads, free after-school care, youth tutoring jobsImprove parks and pools with splash pads that run without holding a button, offer free before and after-school programs, create teen tutoring jobs, and add senior centers in every neighborhood.2025–26Unspecified
- Affordable before and after school programsThe resident asks for funding to increase affordable before- and after-school programming for young people.2025–26City-wide
- Affordable youth programs, parks and recreation centersThe resident asks for affordable youth programs, more parks and recreation centers, and counselors to help youth get along and become community minded.2025–26City-wide
- Transportation help for students getting to schoolThe resident asks for more support for students who lack transportation to school.2025–26City-wide
- Safe, accessible spaces for young childrenThe resident asks for more safe, accessible spaces where young children can play, learn and socialize, since many families cannot afford private options.2025–26City-wide
- Education and gathering spaces for youth and familiesResident asks for education for youth and families and places where young people from all backgrounds can gather and support one another.2025–26East Boston
- Saturday and summer academic and arts programResident asks for a Saturday Success School and summer program with math, science and dance for minority urban students, with hours that fit working single parents' schedules.2025–26City-wide
- After-school homework help, tutoring and snacksResident proposes after-school homework help and tutoring with snacks, open to students of any background without discrimination.2025–26Dorchester
- Homework help for kidsResident proposes a homework help program open to anyone, so kids can get the help they need.2025–26Dorchester
- Help for families affording collegeResident asks for help for families who want to send their child to college but cannot afford it.2025–26City-wide
- Citywide college incentive for all BPS studentsResident proposes a citywide college incentive for all admitted BPS students, similar to the Abigail Adams scholarship, to help lower-income students afford college.2025–26City-wide
- Peer tutoring for struggling students ages 12-16Resident proposes a tutoring program where past graduates help students ages 12-16 who are struggling in school raise grades and understand their work.2025–26City-wide
- More vendors and youth programsResident asks for more vendors and more youth programs, with no further detail or reason given.2025–26City-wide
- City-sponsored parenting support groupsThe resident asks for free parenting groups around the city where parents discuss child development and support each other, since existing groups are exclusive, expensive and inaccessible.2025–26City-wide
- School gardens for farm-to-table learningResident proposes gardens in public schools where students plant vegetables, learn to grow food and eat fresh produce, helping low-income students access healthy food.2025–26City-wide