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 funding for public school buildings and counselingResident says public schools are underfunded and asks for money to improve school infrastructure and expand counseling opportunities, to strengthen school communities.2025–26City-wide
- More affordable after-school programsThe resident asks for more affordable after-school programs because many kids lack access.2025–26City-wide
- Better field trips and support for kids in needThe resident asks for better field trips and more support for children in need, so the benefit reaches all groups.2025–26City-wide
- Direct payments to kids for their futureThe resident asks for direct payments to children to support their future, to help those in need.2025–26City-wide
- Better school conditions and school lunchThe resident asks for improved conditions in schools and better school lunches.2025–26City-wide
- School-year and summer programs for kidsThe resident asks for programs for kids during the school year and summer where children from diverse backgrounds learn to respect each other and reduce discrimination.2025–26Dorchester
- Improve school lunchThe resident raises school lunch as an issue to be addressed, without further detail.2025–26City-wide
- More programs for youthThe resident asks for many more programs for young people, saying they bring people together to learn.2025–26City-wide
- Low-cost sports programsResident asks for more sports programs that do not cost a lot.2025–26City-wide
- Free childcareResident asks for free childcare.2025–26City-wide
- Monthly free kids event with organizations and vendorsResident proposes a monthly free day for kids where different organizations and vendors come together, including inner-city families of all races and income levels.2025–26City-wide
- Working AC and better lunches in BPSResident asks for working air conditioning in Boston public schools and better school lunches.2025–26City-wide
- School supplies and better school bathroomsResident asks for funding for school supplies and better bathrooms to give kids better access to education.2025–26City-wide
- Pilot program for youth with learning disabilitiesResident proposes a pilot program supporting youth with learning disabilities so they have a similar footing to other students.2025–26City-wide
- Student participatory budgets in under-resourced schoolsResident asks that Boston schools with the most minority students and fewest resources get a participatory budget so students can fund projects improving their school.2025–26Dorchester
- Education funding for people of color and immigrantsResident asks for funding for better education for people of color, immigrants and those who cannot afford school fees, to help them escape poverty.2025–26City-wide
- Air conditioning for Boston public schoolsResident asks for HVAC systems in Boston public schools because most schools lack AC to keep students cool.2025–26City-wide
- Better schools for everyoneResident asks for better schools for everyone.2025–26City-wide
- Police-run youth fishing program for immigrant kidsResident asks for a fishing program for kids through the police department, like Chelsea's, since immigrant kids have fewer recreation opportunities.2025–26City-wide
- Repair and improve Boston schools and school foodResident wants schools fixed and better organized, saying buildings are breaking down and the food is old.2025–26City-wide