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 autism programsThe resident asks for more programs serving people with autism.2026–27City-wide
- Support for children and entertainment for seniorsThe resident asks for more support and help for children and entertainment for older adults, benefiting the whole community.2026–27City-wide
- Active youth programs and job trainingThe resident asks for youth activity programs, including sports and cultural activities, to keep young people active, along with job training for youth.2026–27City-wide
- Youth sports, activities and career development; senior health supportThe resident asks for help for youth through sports, activities and career development, and for health and social support for older adults.2026–27City-wide
- Education resources for youth and familiesThe resident asks for education resources for youth and families.2026–27City-wide
- Arts and education resources for youth and familiesThe resident asks for arts and education resources for young people and families, along with public safety.2026–27City-wide
- Community resources and education for youth and familiesThe resident asks for community resources and education for youth and families.2026–27City-wide
- EducationThe resident submits a one-word idea about education, without further detail.2026–27City-wide
- Education for youthThe resident asks for education resources for young people.2026–27City-wide
- Education, food and health needsResident lists education, food and health as priorities, without specific details.2026–27City-wide
- Education, health and food needsResident lists education, health and food as priorities, without specific details.2026–27City-wide
- Education, health, housing and food needsResident lists education, health, housing and food as priorities, without specific details.2026–27City-wide
- Education, health and housing needsResident lists education, health and housing as priorities, without specific details.2026–27City-wide
- Childcare vouchers for working familiesProvide vouchers for day care or summer camp so working families in need can go to work and keep their jobs.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- After-school program for teens 13 and olderCreate an after-school program for ages 13 and up to help vulnerable families who need to work.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Basic income pilot for youth leaving foster carePilot a basic income program for youth aging out of foster or group care to reduce risks of homelessness and justice involvement and support youth of color.2025–26City-wide
- More staffing for BCYF after-school and tutoringResident asks to increase staffing at each BCYF center to provide safe after-school programming and tutoring for school-age kids.2025–26City-wide
- Native-language interpreters for IEP meetingsResident asks Boston Public Schools to provide native-speaking interpreters at IEP meetings so parents understand special education and their rights.2025–26City-wide
- More funding for programming for kids up to 18Resident has no specific project but asks for increased funding for surrounding care and programming for children and teens up to age 18.2025–26City-wide
- Incentives for BPS families for attendance and gradesResident proposes an incentive program rewarding BPS families, especially at struggling schools, whose children attend school regularly and earn high grades, to improve attendance and performance.2025–26City-wide