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 playground at Mather ElementaryBuild an inclusive playground and improve the building at Mather Elementary in Dorchester, which lacks quality facilities for differently abled children.2024–25Dorchester
- Food, clothing and equipped schools for needy kidsEnsure all children, including low-income and homeless kids, have enough food and clothes and well-equipped schools for safe learning.2024–25City-wide
- After-school programs, sports, ELL and tutoringExpand after-school programs, public school sports, English language learning and tutoring for troubled youth.2024–25City-wide
- Language tutoring in educationProvide language tutoring in education settings.2024–25City-wide
- Bulk kites for community centersResident proposes buying kites in bulk and distributing them to children through city-run community centers.2024–25Charlestown
- Renovate King K-6 School playgroundResident asks to renovate the King K-6 School playground at 77 Lawrence Ave, which has never been updated and is not accessible to all ages.2024–25Dorchester
- Barrier-free community programs and public housing repairsResident asks for expanded programs for youth, seniors and families without application or insurance barriers, plus park improvements, public housing repair and pest elimination.2024–25City-wide
- AI reading and SEL app for struggling studentsResident proposes an AI application to help below-grade-level and multilingual students with reading and writing, using emotional analysis and culturally responsive stories to support social-emotional learning.2024–25City-wide
- Community access to BYFC and youth prevention programsThe EASTIE Coalition proposes wider community access to Boston Youth & Family Centers and funding for youth prevention programs on resilience, wellness and HOPE to support youth mental health.2024–25East Boston
- Invest in youth sports and city cleanlinessResident asks for investment in youth sports, especially soccer, and for cleaning the city, emphasizing equality and inclusion.2024–25City-wide
- Cover the gap between camp and schoolResident asks for funding to extend camp or add program capacity so children and youth have care until school begins.2024–25City-wide
- Connect BPS schools with rec centers for after-schoolLink more BPS schools with community rec centers so students can go to safe after-school spaces with siblings, encouraging activity, social interaction and better mental health.2024–25City-wide
- City-run indoor playgrounds for young childrenCreate free indoor playgrounds for young children so low-income families have a safe place to play when outdoors is unsafe.2024–25Roslindale
- College application, SAT and student loan helpProvide lower-income students and families with college application help, SAT materials and tutoring, and education on student loans and repayment so they have the same opportunities as other students.2024–25City-wide
- Early literacy programming reaching most children under 5Resident asks for early literacy programming that reaches at least 75% of children age 5 and under to improve kindergarten readiness and narrow the education gap.2024–25City-wide
- Invest in local schools, scholarships and extracurricularsResident proposes investing in local schools through scholarships, facility improvements and extracurricular funding so every child has access to quality education.2024–25City-wide
- Student study help and grocery support spaceResident asks for a place where students can get help with their studies and groceries, and socialize with one another.2024–25Dorchester
- Charity events to help children and familiesResident asks for charity events that help children and families in need in fun, positive ways.2024–25City-wide
- Public indoor playgrounds for childrenResident asks for free indoor children's play spaces across the city, especially for winter, so families who can't pay for private options have access and neighbors connect.2024–25City-wide
- Reinstate Greater Boston step competition for studentsResident asks to bring back a tiered step competition for middle and high school students to promote culture, physical activity, mental health and social connection.2024–25City-wide