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
- Accessible sex ed for students with disabilitiesResident asks for BPS sex education and materials to be accessible to students with disabilities, including special education students.2024–25City-wide
- Places and activities for youth, like Dorchester Youth ClubResident asks for a place for youth to go and things to do, referencing the former Dorchester Youth Club.2024–25City-wide
- Extend age limit for afterschool programsResident asks for afterschool programs to serve older age groups.2024–25City-wide
- Affordable afterschool programsResident asks for afterschool programs to be made affordable.2024–25City-wide
- Accessible and affordable summer programsResident asks for summer programs that are accessible and affordable.2024–25City-wide
- Scholarships for East Boston humanities studentsResident asks for scholarships for East Boston high school students planning to study humanities, since cost keeps many low-income, first-generation students from college.2024–25East Boston
- Supply pantries in elementary schoolsResident asks for funding for elementary schools to stock supply pantries so teachers need not buy supplies themselves and all students get what they need.2024–25City-wide
- More teen gathering plazasBuild more plazas with a variety of activities, since there are few places for teens to go in Boston.2024–25City-wide
- Education for incarcerated youthProvide tutors and schooling for youth in jails and DYS facilities so they can get educated and find work after release.2024–25City-wide
- More vocational training programs and schoolsFund more carpentry and vocational programs and schools like Madison Park, since knowing a trade makes it easier to get a job.2024–25City-wide
- More child careResident says child care is needed in the city and says it would promote social equality.2024–25BrightonSubmitted in Portuguese
- Community fair for young peopleHold a community fair with food, rides and music because there is little for young people to do in Boston, keeping youth out of trouble and building community.2024–25City-wide
- New school building for Donald McKay SchoolRequests a new building for the Donald McKay school with modern facilities for East Boston students, including arts rooms, gyms and libraries.2024–25East Boston
- Free youth seminars on finance and life skillsProposes free seminars with experts for youth on finances, entrepreneurship, homebuying, investing and more, with parent participation, to teach topics not covered in schools.2024–25City-wide
- Night outreach mentors for young adults in parksProposes a mentoring group working nights and early mornings to reach young adults in parks in summer and connect them to city programs, resources and jobs.2024–25City-wide
- Restore civics in Boston Public SchoolsAsks for civics education to be restored in Boston Public Schools so students understand their rights and duties and can inform career choices.2024–25City-wide
- Roxbury youth finance and business academyProposes an academy teaching young people finance, taxes, credit and entrepreneurship through workshops, projects and mentorship to build economic opportunity and upward mobility.2024–25Roxbury
- Free children's book fairs in city parksResident suggests using funds to buy children's books in bulk at a discount and hold free book fairs, possibly with live music, at city parks to promote literacy.2024–25Charlestown
- Telescopes and microscopes for children at community centersBuy telescopes and microscopes in bulk and distribute them to children through city community centers for self-education.2024–25Charlestown
- Support for special-needs students in regular classroomsFund evaluation and support so youth with special needs can participate in regular classrooms rather than be excluded.2024–25City-wide