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 youth recreation and sports programsResident asks for more youth programs for recreational activities and sports.2026–27City-wide
- Free parenting education and family workshopsThe resident asks for free parenting education, family communication workshops and mental health talks, offered in multiple languages and culturally appropriate ways, to help parents build healthy relationships with their children.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- Community education fund for low-income studentsThe resident asks for a community education fund providing scholarships, after-school tutoring, school supplies and resources for students from low-income families.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Chinese
- More money for schoolsResident asks for more funding to be spent on schools.2026–27City-wide
- After-school career center for youthResident asks for an after-school program and career center where youth can learn trades and skills instead of getting into trouble on the streets.2026–27City-wide
- Trades, arts and home economics in schoolsResident asks for schools to teach trades and commerce, restore music, art and home economics, and support food and agriculture education, to help Black residents economically.2026–27City-wide
- Courses to help young adults make better choicesResident asks for courses and support to help young people make better choices.2026–27City-wide
- Subsidized childcare and summer camp for military familiesThe resident asks the City to subsidize daycare and summer camps for dependents of veterans and servicemembers in Boston, who may exceed income thresholds but still face high childcare costs.2026–27City-wide
- New building for BLSResident asks for a new building for BLS.2026–27City-wide
- Renovate building for BLS at new locationResident asks to renovate a building at a different city location for BLS, to advance diversity in schools.2026–27City-wide
- Fund summer education access, parks and street cleanersResident asks for better funding for organizations to provide summer education access, and also mentions creating more parks and street cleaners.2026–27City-wide
- Spaces for young people to discuss various topicsResident asks for spaces where young people can talk about a variety of topics.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More accessible sports for young peopleResident asks for sports opportunities that are more accessible to young people, saying this would help youth.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More child care centersResident asks for more child care centers for all children.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More classes for childrenResident asks for more classes for children.2026–27City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Youth workshops in crafts, mechanics and bakingResident asks for youth workshops in crafts, mechanics and pastry-making to support personal development and community belonging.2026–27West EndSubmitted in Spanish
- Free places for kids' activities and healthy foodResident asks for free places around the City where kids can do fun activities, eat healthy food, and lose weight, bringing people of all races together.2026–27City-wide
- Education resources for youth and healthy foodResident asks for more education resources for youth and families, better access to healthy food, and an improved environment.2026–27City-wide
- Family education programsThe resident asks for family education programs to help integrate different social groups.2026–27Jamaica PlainSubmitted in Spanish
- Youth programs including English classesThe resident asks for youth programs such as English classes, so young people have more time to prepare and stay out of trouble.2026–27DorchesterSubmitted in Spanish