Mayor Michelle Wu says private partners have committed to employ nearly 500 Boston high school students in part-time afterschool jobs, while warning a city-funded program is at risk in her 2027 budget. She is seeking 1,500 additional placements as the City Cou
Mayor Michelle Wu’s message landed on a familiar fear in Boston: what happens to paid opportunities for teenagers when public dollars disappear.
In a press release Monday. Wu said she has secured commitments for nearly 500 Boston high school students to work part-time during the upcoming school year through private partnerships. Her office also said she is seeking 1. 500 more. after the city-funded afterschool job program she relies on could be cut in her 2027 budget plan.
Wu credited the organizations that stepped in with “sustainable pathways for our students and our workforce.” The city’s plan. as outlined by her office. would still aim to have 2. 000 students hired for part-time. afterschool jobs under the City’s “learn-to-earn” program—but it would change who pays for the positions.
A coalition of private organizations has agreed to employ 475 students part-time during the next school year. according to Wu’s office. The city plans to administer the program but will no longer fund the jobs themselves; the companies and nonprofits in the coalition would have to finance the teenagers’ positions.
The timing is especially sharp. The altered program was announced days before the City Council is scheduled to vote on Wu’s $4.9 billion budget proposal for the 2027 fiscal year. The proposed budget would cut more than $5 million in public funding for the city’s youth employment program. which currently funds both summer and school-year jobs for Boston teens. The Boston Globe reported the changes would “effectively kill” the city’s current iteration of the afterschool jobs initiative.
The City of Boston did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday evening about whether the administration is still considering the proposal to decrease funding for the afterschool job program.
During the 2025-2026 school year, Wu’s office said 1,722 students participated in the City’s school-year jobs program.
Allison Vernerey. Executive Director of the Office of Youth Employment and Opportunity. made the case for paid work during the school year in a quote included with the release: “Young people have made it clear: paid career opportunities during the school year are vital. These roles allow them to support their families while exploring their identities and future career paths.”.
Her office tied the coming commitments to specific organizations. The YMCA of Greater Boston, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, and Artists for Humanity have pledged to hire 200, 100, and 175 Boston teens through the program this upcoming school year, respectively.
Wu’s proposal also leans on a broader network beyond the coalition model. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston plans to continue hiring BPS students during the summer and school year. The Boston Private Industry Council and the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce Foundation have pledged to help organize and support local businesses in hiring Boston teens. Wu’s office said.
Boston businesses, community groups, colleges, and funders were encouraged to join the coalition. Wu’s office listed ways organizations could get involved. including funding career-connected positions through the Boston Private Industry Council. directly hiring high schoolers into part-time roles. or strengthening the ecosystem through job-readiness workshops. employer site visits. job shadow programs. school vacation week bootcamps. or co-training students on certifications.
For many teenagers, the shift described by Wu doesn’t change the basic appeal of paid work. It changes the safety net under it—how much of it is guaranteed by the city, and how much depends on partnerships that could grow or falter depending on the budget vote that comes next.
Michelle Wu Boston afterschool jobs learn-to-earn youth employment City Council budget 2027 budget Boston teens YMCA of Greater Boston Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Artists for Humanity