We had our toddler son go here from 18 months to 3 and a half years. We absolutely loved it! The team is so loving and hands on, communication was great, and our son made so many great friends there. Highly recommend!! read more

Bright Future Early Learning Center Our son thrived at Bright Future from ages 2-5! The amazing teachers (with impressive tenure!) helped him master potty training, build lasting friendships, and develop strong communication skills. We loved the weekly yoga/music classes, school garden, field trips to Oakland Zoo, and wholesome meals that celebrated our community's diversity. Tre is so ready for kindergarten! Our younger son started in January and is also blossoming. Highly recommend this gem! read more

Our daughter attended this preschool for several years beginning at age 2, and it was a great decision we made for her early childhood. Over the years, we watched her thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually. This facility has great teachers who poured into her with love, patience, and intention every single day. We deeply appreciated the enriching experiences built into the schedule from farmer's market trips, yoga, and music sessions. This gave the kids opportunities that complemented their classroom learning. The community they've cultivated at Bright Future is special. Our daughter made lasting friendships. We'll forever be grateful for the foundation this preschool gave our daughter as she begins her next chapter. read more

Our son attended Bright Futures for two years starting when he was 18 months old. We had a great experience. The teachers were caring, supportive, knowledgeable, and responsive. Our son made so many friends at the school and learned so much. We loved the community and our time at Bright Future. The school also provides all food including morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack, which was a major plus. Our son started in the toddler classroom and transitioned to the preschool classroom. The teachers helped with his transition from our nanny share to the school. We'd highly recommend Bright Future to other families. read more

Our son attended Bright Future for just over 2 years, first as a toddler and then in preschool. The kindness and care of the teaching staff helped him grow into the curious, funny, and capable kindergartner he is today! My husband and I couldn't be more appreciative of the Bright Future team in their partnership to help our son grow and learn. We always loved hearing about the projects the kids were working on, yoga class on Wednesdays, music class, and occasional field trips to the Old Oakland Farmers Market. In addition to the wonderful teaching staff, we've loved the parent community. It's been so much fun to watch the kids grow and play together. Highly recommend the Bright Future Early Learning Center if you're looking for a childcare center in downtown Oakland. read more

I've been sending my daughter here for almost 2 years now. She came in as an infant and is now in the toddler classroom. The teachers are AMAZING! They love the kids and I can tell because my daughter always runs in waving hi to them and hugging them and laughing with them. The families that send their kids here are also phenomenal, so if you send your kid here, you will be joining a great community. It also feels very safe since it's in the CA State building in downtown Oakland, so there is always a team of building security officers onsite. read more

Bright Future and its staff are not simply teachers, they're family. My daughter started on the infant / toddler side when she was 2.5 years old, and now she is graduating from preschool at 5 years old. She's learned and grown so much under the care guidance and nurturing of the teachers and staff, I cannot recommend this center enough! Thank you to Ms. Ayisha, Ms. Brenaja, Ms. Razika, and all of you at Bright Future for raising the next generation! read more

We have two children who have been coming to Bright Futures (BFELC) for a couple of years now (one child since 2.5 years, another child since 5 months infant) and they are both thriving at this school. We are really grateful to Miss Jenel and her amazing team for their thoughtfulness, care, and professionalism. This school really hit the sweet spot for us in terms of a small and intimate community (rather than a franchise place) that truly puts early childhood education at the center with play-based learning. A few things that encapsulates my experience: 1. Do the staff genuinely care about the children? - YES!! I've had my children in a couple of different daycare/preschools, and they range from daycares where the staff are paid so little that they are literally just phoning it in to the daycares are super fancy and they have bells and whistles and matching t-shirts but little personal touch. BFELC hit the sweet spot for me in terms of being small enough so that it feels like teachers actually deeply know and understand our children as individuals, but also that the school is big and professionalized enough that there are appropriate controls and systems in place - and teachers who can sub for one another, as opposed to everything all falling onto a few people's shoulders. The other thing that contributes to a genuinely caring environment in my opinion is the fact that the teachers seem to really like it here and for the most part are also deeply passionate about early childhood education. It's a good sign to me when teachers are constantly investing in themselves to upskill themselves in certifications on childhood education over and above the professional development that's offered by the school, they see themselves as childhood educators and that makes a big difference. There was also a teacher who had particular gardening skills so she started a vegetable garden which grew and resulted in this beautiful bounty for the children to take home with them. This is the kind of thing that large institutions usually have rules against, but I like the BFELC is enough of a smaller community that it can allow this kind of personal touch and entrepreneurialism from teachers. 2. Is the school administratively okay to deal with - Yes, BFELC is pretty solid in this department. This was a painpoint for me in one of my previous daycares for my child, there was a constant stream of forms to fill out or processes to follow or the school was just super stickler on communicating ONLY in the app so you could not actually TALK to the teachers you had to only go through the app - not a very human experience. At BFELC, it's a much more human experience and the school administration totally understands that parents are juggling a million different things. They keep things systematic and organized (eg using the BrightWheel app for announcements) but also easy going and LOW ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN especially on the number of asks to parents. 3. Are my kids happy and learning and growing? - Yes, they are! One thing I really appreciate about BFELC is how low-key the community of parents are. The student population is generally diverse and representative of the Oakland area (including teachers who speak multiple languages - one of them has been teaching the older kids a bit of french on the side) and the other parents are the kind that get to know my kids' names and bring group snacks at pick-up for everyone when they can. Parent participation is always welcome but never mandatory or looked down upon if you're not able to be more involved, and the other parents are welcoming. I've noticed my children grow meaningful friendships through the school, and grow in leaps and bounds in their social and communication skills as a result. read more

We have a child in the toddler room, and one in the pre school room. Both children enjoy the teachers and have learned to much! From how to use utensils properly, to singing their a-b-c's, to learning to use the potty. The school has been exceptional during COVID-19. They implemented new protocols which have kept the kids and staff safe. They establish monthly lesson plans for all classrooms and have parent-teacher conferences twice a year to discuss each child's development. During non-pandemic times, they used to visit the old town farmers market every Friday. We love Bright Future! read more

My oldest son started at Bright Future at 3 months old and continued until he went to kindergarten. My youngest son started at 5 months old and will be graduating from the center in July to go to TK. We were very lucky to find Bright Future as it provided a loving and educational place for our children to grow. The amazing teachers at the school, in the infant, toddler and preschool room, were all specifically equipped to care for our children at each stage of their development. In the infant room they were given specific toys and activities to help them develop both physically and emotionally and both kids learned some sign language as infants which certainly helped communication as well! In the preschool room our sons have learned so much and were very prepared for the transition to elementary school. I received compliments from a kindergarten teacher about how well prepared my son was. It was stressful to originally find a place where I felt my children would be safe and comfortable so I was grateful to find Bright Future and will be forever grateful for their time with my children. read more

We've been sending our son here since he was 2.5 yrs old. The staff is super professional and our LO has enjoyed it very much. Some of the biggest pros in my opinion: - Professional preschool teachers, all of them have been there multiple years so there is great structure and consistency for the little ones - Nice facility, with a good sized outdoor covered play area, good even for rainy days - Catered meals and snacks included! - Good learning structure. Regular trips to Museum of Children's Arts for painting and art projects. Yoga teacher every other week. We feel lucky to be part of their community. read more

We have 2 children in Bright Future and we absolutely love it. The center is well maintained, organized, and has amazing staff that shower love on our children daily. Jenel is an excellent manager and communicator. We appreciate that meals are provided for and our children enjoy them! They have a well organized curriculum that is play based, but includes learning their alphabet and numbers. A yoga and music class are included along with regular field trips to the farmers market. We absolutely adore BF and all the work they do for our children. read more

I've been sending my 2 year old daughter to Bright Future since she was about 5 months old. I was so excited when I got in off the waitlist and was able to move her from her previous daycare. I'll be sending my second in a few weeks at around 4 months, too. Some things I like: -The center is modern, clean, safe and well organized to be intellectually stimulating for each developmental stage -The staff are trained in early childhood education and the results are clear: I am amazed at how advanced my daughter is in terms of emotional intelligence, playing well with others, and verbal abilities - Breakfast and lunch are provided. What a treat for me :D -The staff and parents feel like a community, especially now during COVID. There hasn't been one covid case at the center (open since July 2020) and it really feels like everyone is working together to keep each other safe. There are policies and protocols and extended cleaning time (which means shorter hours but I'll take it if it means fewer closures and less risk) -The staff there today are the same staff that were there when my oldest started at BF two years ago. -The organization is a non-profit so there is a board overseeing the org to make sure that all relevant policies and best practices are being instituted and you know that the daycare fee is fair -During normal times, I work across the street and was able to go over and nurse my daughter whenever I wanted, and I'd take her out for lunch on Fridays to the farmers market in Chinatown. It really was so special (can't wait to get back to that!) -During covid times, I feel really grateful for this space and that my daughter can continue to thrive in the center I'd definitely recommend Bright Future for anyone looking for childcare or a preschool in the Oakland area. read more

We have two kids in the preschool room and have been there since 2017. We love the teachers and the school! Their COVID safety protocols have made us feel very safe. The preschool room has 30 ft ceilings and great ventilation. There is a large, covered outdoor play area for kids play rain or shine. Snacks and meals are included. During normal times, they have yoga and music teachers come in every other week and field trips to MOCHA and the farmer's market. read more

I send my 3 and 1 year old here. We've been going for over a year. The teachers are great and the location is superb.

Simply the BEST daycare/preschool for families living or working around downtown Oakland. Why? Because... 1. Infants can start there at 3 months old and move through the program until the start of kindergarten. 2. They maintain a teacher:child ratio BETTER than the state requires. That means at any given moment the center has more teachers available than the minimum the state allows. 3. Babies (when awake) are constantly either held, talked to, READ to, played with, or given some kind of affectionate care. 4. The teachers have both official qualifications and serious talent with children. Every one of them could teach Mary Poppins a thing or three about kids. 5. Toddler and preschool teachers give serious help with potty training - if you have/had potty trainers you know how important that is. 6. Play-centered educational program that starts from early on and grows with the child. Kids are learning shapes by 1 year (not just circle/square but hexagon, etc as well) and there are 4-year-olds in there reading books. 7. Real dedication to parent involvement (need to start us early so we're ready for kindergarten too!). Parents can drop in just about any time to visit the kids, and there is a parent committee program for families to work on special projects and activities for the center. 8. At the end of the day, a teacher will discuss the day with the parent. You get an overview of how things went, any needs or issues that came up. And answers to any questions, great or small. 9. Field trips and outings for toddlers and up. "Real" field trips to Fairyland and MOCHA and such, as well as little trips out. 10. Much better food than I ever get for lunch. They use Revolution Foods so there's no skimp on nutrition or taste. I wonder if I can pass for a student so I can indulge in chicken mole with brown rice and steamed corn, or vegetarian sloppy joe on a fresh baked bun with fresh butternut squash and yogurt..... Sure, I know that most centers claim to have great ratios and professionally developed educational programs blah blah blah, but this one is it. They really do what they claim and more. I could go on and on about Bright Future; you really just have to check it for yourself. The one "con" is that there's always a waiting list. Not a surprise. But it's 100% worth waiting for. After one look at the program there's no question about that. Best thing to do is schedule a preview appointment before baby is born so you can get on that list early. Our son has been with this preschool since infancy. He'll be there til kindergarten. And then we'll miss Bright Future! read more

Bright Future is an amazing center which cares for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Our son attended Bright Future from 3 months to kindergarten and daughter started at 5 months and is now two and a half and doing great. The teachers are warm, caring, and have amazing skills with kids. The facility is spacious, with both sizeable indoor and outdoor areas. Infants have a very safe and clean indoor play area and separate crib/sleeping area and older infants get outdoor time as well.The outdoor areas are shaded and have large play structures (like slides), balls, tricycles, large building blocks, and the list goes on. The center is play based, so kids can choose the activities they want to do. Teachers provide lots of choices for play so the kids can flourish and develop physically and mentally. The teacher student ratios are excellent so you know your kids are well cared for. The infant caregivers are constantly talking to, singing to, holding, and interacting with the babies. read more

Our son started at Bright Future at 13 months and graduated from there to Kindergarten. We loved it and miss it. Our son needed structure and the mix of open play within the structure of circle time, playground, table time, etc. really helped him. When he had a behavior problem, biting, they really helped him learn to control himself by observing closely to find the trigger and then helped him learn alternative behaviors. He was very well prepared for Kindergarten, already knowing how to behave, letters,colors, numbers, shapes, days of the week, most months with some early reading. They encouraged his love of building and bikes! When we felt we needed parenting advice, the teachers, especially Ms. Linda and Ms. Crystal, would provide it if asked but were not pushy about it. While evaluating daycare and preschools, note whether there are TVs around. The only television at Bright Future is in the mothers' nursing room and only joins the classroom during the fundraising Parent's Night Out for the quarterly pizza-and-a-movie party for the kids. Our whole family misses Bright Future. read more

My 2 girls ages 3 and 5 were at Bright Future for over a year. It was a year filled with education, fun and enrichment. Bright Future staff is energetic and easy to approach. The director Laura was responsive and excited about the program. I would definitely recommend it to any parent looking for an engaging early childhood program. read more

Our son has been at Bright Future for about six months and we couldn't be happier. He had a nanny who he loved and we weren't sure how he would handle the transition. After the first week he was as happy as could be. The teachers there are uniformly delightful and really love the kids. Because of their low teacher:student ratio, they're able to give detailed feedback about his day. The kids are sweet and seem happy, and our son has grown more independent during his time there. Everything is clean and well organized. They even have a yoga instructor - we were stunned when our 1.5 year old did a downward dog. My only complaint is that I wish it was open a bit later. Everything else is awesome. read more