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
- Post-partum and infant supply hubs in librariesResident wants supply hubs in neighborhood libraries and family centers stocked with baby gear, nursing supplies and safe-sleep bassinet kits for new families.2026–27City-wide
- More staff for BPS full inclusionResident asks for funds to hire more staff and convert part-time to full-time positions to support full inclusion in Boston Public Schools, citing a difficult rollout.2026–27Brighton
- Expand access at Artisans Asylum in BrightonResident asks for funding for more classrooms, free classes and field trips at Artisans Asylum, a Brighton educational and arts nonprofit, to lower barriers for a more diverse audience.2026–27Brighton
- Youth entrepreneurship program in East BostonResident proposes workshops in financial literacy, AI, career readiness and leadership with small business mentors, giving East Boston youth practical career and entrepreneurial skills outside the classroom.2026–27East Boston
- Rolling science and art kits for summer programsResident asks for rolling carts of hands-on science, technology, and art activity kits for libraries and youth centers to use in outdoor summer programming.2026–27City-wide
- Program for young children ages 2-6Resident asks for a program for young children between ages 2 and 6.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Portuguese
- Program to help children and older adultsThe resident asks for a program to help children and seniors, with no further detail.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Portuguese
- Foundation teaching youth money managementThe resident asks for a foundation to teach young people how to manage their money, since many don't know how.2026–27City-wide
- Senior, teen and young adult centersThe resident asks for centers for seniors, teens and young adults (18-25) where they can socialize and join activities, without knowing which areas lack them.2026–27City-wide
- Free swimming lessons for city schoolchildrenResident asks for free swimming lessons for inner city school children to teach a life skill and prevent possible tragedies.2026–27City-wide
- Free before and afterschool care and homework helpResident requests free before- and afterschool care and homework help, because school schedules make full-time work hard for parents, especially mothers, without paying for separate coverage.2026–27City-wide
- Inclusive, no-tryout afterschool sportsResident asks that afterschool sports be open to all rather than requiring tryouts, so kids can try new things without families spending large amounts.2026–27City-wide
- Mandatory swim lessons for 5th gradersResident wants to address youth drownings by partnering with the Y to make swim lessons mandatory for all fifth graders, since many city kids never learn to swim.2026–27City-wide
- Free book sets for pre-K to grade 5Resident asks for a free set of books for every child from pre-K through fifth grade to encourage reading.2026–27Roxbury
- Help for parents with child careResident asks for assistance with child care for parents who cannot access these resources.2026–27Dorchester
- Educational programs on street dangers for youthResident asks for educational programs for children and teens that raise awareness of the dangers of the street, benefiting youth of all backgrounds.2026–27Roxbury
- Free after-school soccer clubsThe resident asks for more free after-school soccer classes and clubs to reduce stress and keep kids fit.2026–27Downtown
- Free Boston Play sports initiativeThe resident proposes a free program offering sports like volleyball, soccer, baseball and basketball plus outdoor activities, encouraging in-person interaction across neighborhoods and less screen time for children.2026–27City-wide
- More financial programs for youthThe resident asks for more financial programs for young people, as an investment in the future.2026–27City-wide
- Centers supporting young adults toward independenceThe resident asks for centers that help young adults progress to become independent, successful Boston residents, creating more opportunities for under-privileged people.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Korean