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
- Financial help for family extracurricular activitiesResident asks for financial assistance covering extracurricular activities that include both children and caregivers, so families who are often left out can participate.2025–26City-wide
- Convert Sumner Elementary into pilot childcare centerResident proposes turning Sumner Elementary School into a childcare center with the Boys & Girls Club, offering free tuition for 30-50% AMI families, a Youth Connect office and arts-based programs.2025–26Roslindale
- Bike rodeo on closed MLK Boulevard in RoxburyResident proposes a bike rodeo on a closed MLK Boulevard/Malcolm X Park so Roxbury kids, who lack bike lanes and pump tracks, can practice and show bike skills.2025–26Roxbury
- Subsidize summer camps and financial literacy programsResident suggests $1 million to subsidize summer camps and afterschool programs with financial education and trades, because low-income neighborhoods have weaker options for kids.2025–26City-wide
- Weekend and evening youth drop-in programsResident asks for funded evening and weekend drop-in programs with food, music and mentorship in community centers to reduce violence and support youth in underserved neighborhoods.2025–26City-wide
- Pop-up financial bootcamp for ages 16–24Resident proposes a pop-up bootcamp for young people aged 16–24 on credit, student loans and banking, to build financial habits and reduce wealth gaps.2025–26City-wide
- Third spaces for youth, including court-involved teensResident points to a lack of third spaces for Boston youth, especially court-involved teens, and wants to connect them to library programs.2025–26City-wide
- Recording studio and content creation space for youthResident asks for a recording studio and content creation space so kids can pursue their interests and stay off the streets.2025–26Dorchester
- Guidance for mothers and families on managing timeResident asks for stronger support, guidance and information for mothers and families on how to optimize their time, with children and fathers helping mothers.2025–26City-wide
- Publicly funded daycare for familiesResident asks for state or city-funded daycare to help single and working parents, since childcare costs hold families back and keep parents from working.2025–26City-wide
- Before-school child care in Boston public schoolsResident asks for more before-school child care programs in Boston public schools because more couples work and have nowhere to leave children early.2025–26City-wide
- Expand after-school programs for children and youthThe resident asks for more after-school programs for children and teens to support families where both parents work.2025–26City-wide
- Support before-school programs in public schoolsResident asks for more support for before-school programs in public schools, helping parents who work early hours.2025–26City-wide
- More before-school programs in public schoolsResident asks for more before-school programs in public schools to support working parents.2025–26City-wide
- Summer programs for youthResident asks for summer programs for young people, to help youth in the Hispanic community live better.2025–26City-wide
- After-school and summer educational programs for youthResident asks for more after-school or summer programs offering youth more education so future generations can live better.2025–26City-wide
- Youth projects that include everyoneResident asks for projects for young people, noting the benefit of including everyone.2025–26East Boston
- More child care programsResident asks for more child care programs for the community.2025–26East Boston
- After-school programsResident asks for after-school programs.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More youth programs, education and recreationResident asks for education, more youth programs and more recreation to provide equal access to education and recreation for all.2025–26City-wide