Very kind and respectful staff overall. Ease of finding the building, and escort support from the…read morefront desk person. Clean space all around, easy instructions upon arrival, and no confusion whatsoever. Testing space RE lighting, temperature, and comfort was satisfactory.

Just passed my second (and final) test for my professional license at this center. It's well…read morelocated, easy to get to and most important, when I am 100% freaked out about my high-stakes test, VERY NICE and VERY KIND people that work there. Check in and security check terrific. I can't express how grateful I am that they are organized and really put one at ease. Note -- everyone is taking a different test so don't go by what time others leave. They have noise canceling headphones available at each cubicle, this easily distracted person is very happy for that. THANK YOU!

PEL stands for "Pre-Eminent Learning" and is the new Kumon with the Singaporean math trend focus on…read morecommon core math that us millennial parents didn't grow up with. There aren't any Russian math options around Alameda yet so we decided to sign up for the free consult/testing for PEL for our then five year old at the end of TK to see where he was at and he's been enjoying it ever since. We go twice a week for one hour and with the daily homework, our kindergartner is enjoying math drills and writing practice/phonics/reading. It takes a second to make it a habit but now he enjoys it and timing himself on the homework (cue childhood trauma from Kumon where my mom had a stopwatch!). I stopped correcting the homework for my sanity (more trauma - my mom corrected all our Kumon with the borrowed answer books and yelled if we got too many wrong). At this young age, they have Junior PEL which is with a teacher in a small group (versus the older kids who independently work and then raise hands for help). Our son's favorite teacher is Teacher Anna. For the waiting parents, this place has better parking, location and amenities than Mathnasium or Kumon with the Southshore shopping center. You can go grocery shopping at Trader Joe's and Safeway, pickup dinner, get a foot massage at W Spa, go for a run/walk by Crown Beach, return Amazon purchases at Kohl's, go to the bank, charge your car, etc. It's a carve-out time for errands that makes PEL seamless into our hectic family life with two young children. You can also just veg on the phone or work while waiting in the lobby (they have a super clean bathroom and it's quiet). The couple that owns this location also has a sister location in San Leandro and they run it efficiently and smoothly bc Alameda is their second location. Director Lawrence and Ms Kiwi are caring and kind and they also conduct regular parent teacher conferences, which is helpful at projecting and quantifying the hours invested into PEL. The icing on the cake is the annual honor roll ceremony in October. They did a great in putting the event together with the kids and parents in mind and our son is so proud of his honor roll trophy and shows everyone that comes over. Highly recommend PEL (especially those in public school in alameda bc K doesn't have homework!)

We have two elementary-school boys and spent over two years trying other learning programs in the…read morearea. While they helped a bit, nothing compared to PEL Learning Center in Alameda. Mr. Lawrence and the entire staff are incredibly attentive to each child's individual needs, helping them not just improve but truly excel. What sets PEL apart, however, is their outstanding communication with parents. They keep us closely informed, work directly with us to assess progress, and make thoughtful adjustments so our boys stay engaged and never lose interest. This partnership lets us provide the right support at home. Most impressively, Mr. Lawrence has gone far above and beyond--he has even attended our son's IEP meeting at school to better understand his specific learning needs and ensure PEL's program perfectly complements, supports, and supplements his classroom experience and special education plan. I've never seen this level of genuine passion and investment in individual students from any other program. If you're looking for a tutoring center that truly cares about your child's academic growth and overall engagement, I can't recommend PEL highly enough!

It has been over 1.5 years since my last review, and we love the school as much as we did when our…read morechild started school 2+ years ago! Everyone on staff has been incredibly easy and pleasant to collaborate with, and responsive to my questions. The school expanded over the summer to add 2 more classrooms, so that Burkard now has 6 classrooms: K/1, 2/3, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7/8th. Having experienced a few private schools and a public school between my 2 kids, I am confident this is the best environment for my child, for both academic differentiation and SEL support. It's often lamented that parents have to choose the least bad educational option for their 2e kids, but I truly believe this is a great option. We were fortunate enough to be with his amazing 2/3 teachers for 2 years, and have a new set of teachers we love this year, too. Speaking with parents across grades, they also think highly of their teaching teams. My son continues to thrive academically (measured by his overall engagement, as well as MAP testing), and we are very happy with the math differentiation he receives. Each year, I have been pleased with the attention and care the staff takes to make sure he's challenged at the right level. They take great care to plan engaging lessons across ELA, science, social studies and SEL, and incorporate hands on projects regularly to extend their learning. My son regularly shares interesting facts he learned in class! Math is a subject he continues to be passionate about, so I reach out to the school annually for math acceleration. He is given math assessments at the start of each year to determine the appropriate placement, and is given the option of joining a higher level class, or doing independent study in his classroom. We opted this year to have him join the higher level math class on a modified schedule, and we are grateful for the ability to choose the right option for him. The daily SEL teaching is also very well done. Many schools don't have the ability to go in-depth with SEL, but our BT has devised fun games and exercises for the kids to put their SEL knowledge into practice. It was so sweet to hear that my son's 4th grade class taught new recess games to the K/1 class! The BT's keep a close watch throughout the day, so the students are able to learn and play in a physically and emotionally safe environment. When conflicts arise, the staff is there to help the students resolve the issue in an appropriate way. We get daily reports, and twice monthly newsletters sharing what he's learning, so I know he's receiving a high quality education. If your child is at a school that is not meeting their needs, I encourage you to tour the Burkard School. It is truly a gem of a school!

We found TBS about three years ago and it is quite surprising that there aren't more schools for…read morebright kids who have significant social & emotional challenges, including mood disorders. We unfortunately found very little real understanding and expertise along the way, moving from program to program, from school to school, in every case deeply involved with the IEP process. Then we decided to try TBS. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Our student's self-esteem and emotional intelligence started to grow from the start and has continued to grow ever since. No more calls asking us to come quickly, the benefits to our entire household have been pretty incredible, across parents, siblings, and friends alike. When your student talks to you about how the kids at school are 'just like me', when they express a sense of belonging and common purpose to thrive in the face of big emotions, you can only smile and reflect on the journey. ...and imagine what it's like for other parents to understand you, understand your child, and understand so much of the details of the journey. The TBS community, made up of students, teachers, and parents is one that sees your child as deserving, powerful, and good.

Our elementary aged daughter worked with Miranda for a couple of years and instead of tears and…read morepower struggles, Miranda was able to engender interest and fun. The math our daughter dreaded was transformed into a fun and engaging opportunity.

My 5th grade son has been working with Miranda over the past 18 months on executive functioning…read moreskills and academic coaching. Miranda was able to immediately connect with him and meet him where he was. She is warm, kind and is adaptable to any mood or level of focus he has that day. He always looks forward to their weekly sessions! She has truly helped improve his organizational skills and writing ability (previously a non-preferred task for him). She has also helped interface with his teachers and school (independent east bay school) in a way that has really benefited him. Miranda has really helped him schoolwork that more accurately reflects his abilities. In addition to helping him break up and strategize for his homework assignments, she also works on skill building (taking notes, doing research, learning citations, editing, estimating how long a piece of work will take). These skills have blossomed and will continue to help him as he transitions to middle school. I can see a notable increase in his confidence when he tackles new assignments. I highly recommend Meyerson Education services. Miranda has really been a game-changer for my son and our family!

My daughter just completed the Cardiology Camp at Stanford, and I cannot speak highly enough of the…read moreexperience. The instructors and camp leaders were exceptional. They created a welcoming, supportive environment where the kids felt comfortable, connected, and truly bonded with one another. Thanks to this camp, my daughter has gained so much confidence. She made amazing friends and came home at the end of the week excited to share what she learned. A special thank you to Emily, who is incredibly kind and quick to respond to any questions. Dr. D was an inspiring teacher--knowledgeable, patient, and truly engaging with the students. And Julian made a lasting impression by remembering the kids' names from the very beginning and being consistently warm and friendly. Thank you so much to the entire team at Education Unlimited for such a meaningful and memorable experience!

This was an excellent service. They got us two amazing tour guides who were friendly and…read moreknowledgeable in the peak season when all the campus tours were already booked. The company representative was easy to reach and constantly kept us in the loop via text. Highly recommended!

We are very grateful for Ilumin's support throughout the college application process. The team was…read moreknowledgeable, responsive and encouraging. They made the process much less stressful. We truly appreciate their guidance and would highly recommend Ilumin to other families.

If you are looking for college admission support, I cannot recommend ILUMIN Education enough. Our…read moreconsultant, Danny has been working with my son since junior year, and his help during the application process was invaluable. He was extremely dedicated and provided advice that my son actually listened to and follow - which is a huge win for any parent! Seeing him get into his dream college was proud moment for us, and we know Danny played a big part in that success. We are so appreciative of the care and effort put into his journey.

People cheat. I know that. When I took my CBEST test years ago, we teachers could not wear a…read moresweater, unless it was a pullover. We had to put any purses or bags in a pile in the back of the room. But, that was before the tech area. People still cheat because now you sign up online, have to have your name on a list downstairs and show the building attendants your identification. Then you go into the elevator they tell you to and they push the button for you to go to your floor. There are no buttons in the elevator!!! Once on your floor you arrive, have to show your name, give them your ID, promise to give them your first newborn and allow them to draw a pint of blood and wait while they test it! Just kidding!!! Actually, you do show the ID and do a palm scan, fill out paperwork and sign some papers. They you go to a locker and put everything that isn't nailed down into it. Phones, glasses, purses, bags, etc. And the phone has to be turned off. Then you go to one of two rooms where you have to sign another form (I think). If you have glasses, they have to go onto a checker or something (it was a round pad). Alternatively, you may need to leave them there. I don't wear my glasses when working on a computer. Once at the room again, I had to do a hand scan. I also had to turn my pockets inside out, which is where I found the penny. I had a choice to give it to them to hold or put it in my locker. My money went into the locker. One day, I had a cardigan on (where I found the lone penny) and she patted my back to make sure nothing was in there. The woman said, "you have no idea what we've seen." I said, "I believe it. I went to college and those rich kids were masters at cheating." Anyway, you go into a room and sit at the computer they tell you to. Then you read that there is a camera on you and a microphone. Not surprised, but three tests over two days and I passed. Yay!!! The other good thing is I don't have to go back! Yay, again! Another good thing is that they have testing on the weekends. So my first two tests were on Saturday, the day after I called in to sign up for the test. I had to reschedule my next test and was able to do it easily. I appreciated this and the convenience even though I had to nearly give up an arm and a leg.

I recently visited this testing center, and here's what to expect. Upon arrival, you'll check in…read morewith security on the first floor, who will also push the elevator button to take you to the 4th floor. Once inside the center, you'll take a number and wait to be called to the counter. Staff will ask for your ID and confirm which test you're taking. Be prepared to follow strict rules: no phones, drinks, or food are allowed inside, and you'll need to store these items in a locker. They'll also ask you to remove jackets, so dress appropriately for the conditions inside. The workers are very stern and keep everything professional and efficient, which helps maintain a focused environment for testing. Overall, the center runs smoothly if you follow instructions, but don't expect a warm, relaxed atmosphere - it's very much about business here.

When I first came to PEL Tutoring, my son Ayden was in kindergarten. I noticed he was struggling…read morewith the school curriculum and had a hard time staying seated for long periods of time. I shared my concerns with Mr. Lawrence about the challenges we were facing both at school and at home. He reassured me not to worry and said he would help my son. In the beginning, Ayden struggled a lot. He couldn't stay in his chair for even five minutes without getting up. Mr. Lawrence took the time to have a serious talk with him about the importance of focusing and doing his work. Throughout the process, Mr. Lawrence was patient and understanding of what Ayden was going through. He truly cared. Over time, he became like an extra father figure not only to Ayden but to many of the kids at PEL Tutoring. Mr. Lawrence and his wife genuinely care about the well-being of the children in their program. In just the last few months, my son has improved so much. I 100% stand by PEL Tutoring -- it is absolutely worth it.

Our son was testing below his grade in math and English so we enrolled him in PEL. I'm kist6 months…read morehe has shown tremendous improvement and even got a math award! He will soon be testing above his grade and we are so thankful for this wonderful team. The staff is wonderful and they do an excellent job tracking each student's progress.

Leila is amazing and my family would have been absolutely lost without her help. We moved from LA…read moreto the Bay Area this year and she helped us figure out both middle and elementary school for our children. She has a wealth of knowledge about schools, teachers, pedagogy, the application process, how to write an essay, etc. She helped us every step of the way and also organized school visits for us on our trips up from LA. Every penny you spend on Sparkjoy Consulting is well worth it. In fact, I still text Leila with questions about extracurricular activities, restaurants, etc.! She is amazing and her sunny disposition makes her wonderful to work with through this process which would otherwise be very stressful!

I whole-heartedly agree with all these glowing Yelp reviews of Leila and her services. She brings…read morea wealth of experience as a teacher (check out her resume!) and parent to her work, and it feels like having a friend on the inside to guide you through the school selection process. Leila helped me navigate the process with more lightness, and homed in on the right questions to help us make important decisions. Leila provides a wonderful service for parents wading through the many great school choices available to East Bay families!

My kids truly thrive in an outdoor setting. As energetic boys, they need space to move, explore,…read moreand play--and forest school has been the perfect outlet for that. It brings me so much joy to watch them get messy in the dirt, make mud pies, and explore the forest freely. It's the kind of childhood experience I wish I had growing up. What I love most is the strong bond the teachers have formed with my children out in nature. It means a lot to me that they're not only learning but also building a deep respect for Mother Nature from such a young age.

Keiki and Macaulay have created such a deeply enriching space for children--a true sanctuary where…read morelearning, nature, and community are beautifully woven together. They offer far more than academics; it nurtures the whole child in a way that feels rare and incredibly needed in today's world. Children are encouraged to connect with the natural world, explore their creativity, and grow at their own pace. There's a grounded, heart-centered rhythm to their days that fosters confidence, curiosity, and resilience. The environment they cultivate empowers kids to trust themselves, express freely, and feel seen and safe--something every child deserves. What makes this group especially unique is their commitment to honoring alternative values, all within a respectful and inclusive community. Families seeking a holistic, values-aligned approach to education will find a true home here. Keiki and Macaulay lead with integrity, deep care, and a genuine love for children. We feel so grateful to be part of this intentional, thriving community.