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
- Education for all and safe community spacesResident asks for education for everyone and safe, calm spaces that benefit the community and the environment.2025–26City-wide
- More community programs for children and youthText is partly garbled, but appears to ask for more community spaces and programs for children and youth during the school year and summer.2025–26City-wide
- Better education and opportunities for childrenResident asks for improved schooling and more learning and development opportunities for children, promoting good education so they can reach their potential in society.2025–26City-wide
- Seasonal program resources for young childrenResident asks for program resources for young children throughout the different seasons of the year, available to everyone.2025–26City-wide
- Better education and opportunities for childrenResident asks for improved schooling and more opportunities for children to support their learning and development.2025–26City-wide
- More activities and spaces for teensResident says most activities are for adults or small children and asks for more teen activities to keep teens together, engaged and out of trouble.2025–26City-wide
- More affordable youth sports programs in BostonResident says Boston has few affordable youth sports opportunities and asks for more programs and funding, since options outside the city are far away and expensive.2025–26City-wide
- Improve education in Boston public schoolsImprove what is taught to students in Boston public schools so all students, regardless of background, have access to a good education.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- Sports, dance and fitness programs for teensCreate fun, safe physical activity programs for teens, like sports, dance and fitness, to keep them active and away from drugs.2025–26City-wide
- Dietitians and fresh local meals in schoolsThe resident proposes a pilot bringing dietitians and fresh, local meals to Boston schools, inspired by Japan, to improve childhood nutrition and nutrition education.2025–26City-wide
- More help for youth learning to driveThe resident asks for more support for young people learning to drive, so they develop good driving practices.2025–26City-wide
- Interactive science workshops in public spacesThe resident proposes hands-on workshops (robotics, experiments, cooking, crafts) in parks, libraries and stations to spread scientific knowledge and social interaction, led by a racially diverse group of facilitators.2025–26City-wideSubmitted in Spanish
- More funding for school activitiesThe resident asks for more funding for school activities to help young people connect with each other.2025–26City-wide
- Fund East Boston recreation spaces for teensResident asks for funding for recreation places in East Boston because teens are smoking.2025–26Downtown
- Neighborhood family wellness centers with free workshopsResident asks for neighborhood centers offering free workshops on child development, parenting and financial literacy for families and caregivers, especially in low-income and immigrant communities.2025–26City-wide
- Mobile science and environmental education unitsResident proposes mobile units that bring hands-on science and environmental learning to neighborhoods, partnering with hospitals and research centers, to widen access for low-income communities.2025–26City-wide
- Free STEAM after-school and weekend programsResident asks for free or low-cost after-school and weekend hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and math programs in community facilities, especially in underserved neighborhoods.2025–26City-wide
- Free AP Biology exam prep programResident proposes a free AP Biology prep program with BPS and local universities, led by volunteers, to give low-income students equal access to exam support.2025–26City-wide
- Free SAT prep with universities and BPSResident proposes a free SAT prep program with Boston Public Schools and area universities, using volunteer students and teachers, to reduce cost barriers for low-income students.2025–26City-wide
- Plant-based food education in K-12 curriculumResident asks for mandatory, age-appropriate K-12 lessons on plant-based food and the environmental impact of animal agriculture.2025–26City-wide