Bright Future Early Learning Center
Oakland, CA
To see Department of Social Services records on this facility, click on its DSS Facility License # below.
We have reopened, during this pandemic, for early care and education. Please inquire: 510.835.4012
Located in the Elihu Harris State Building in Oakland, this program serves children from 3 months to the start of kindergarten. Employees of the State of California, University of California Office of the President, and the City of Oakland receive priority when enrolling their children. We serve families from the community if there are additional openings. Bright Future provides a nurturing environment, rich with developmentally appropriate activities that challenge and encourage creativity. We support interactive, hands-on learning, knowing that children learn best when they have opportunities to use all of their senses.
Parent Q&A
Parent Reviews
Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.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
- 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. One of the older posts discusses staff turnover, but that hasn’t been an issue in some time because the Board increased salaries to ensure the staff are well compensated and that has been successful in retention, which brings me to my next pro:
- 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.
I highly recommend this daycare for infants, toddlers, or preschool age kids. Both my son and daughter went to Bright Future and loved it. The teachers are warm and caring. The Center is spacious inside, and includes an enclosed outdoor play area.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
July 2011
Re: Infant care at Small Trans Depot in Oakland?
While I cannot comment on Small Trans Depot, my 5-year old son has gone to Bright Future Early Learning Center since he was 13 months old. It is in the base of the State of California Building at 14th and Clay in downtown Oakland. Like Small Trans Depot, they have an infant room, a toddler room and a preschool. I particularly liked that the preschool is mixed ages; there are not many children in our neighborhood. I was looking for my son to experience being the little kid, the middle and the ''big'' kid. We have had a wonderful experience and will miss it when he graduates next month.
The facility is bright and clean, has warm and loving teachers, and some flexibility on the number of days per week. The childcare center was originally started as an employee retention tool so there is a priority list based on your employer. There are also a limited number of sliding scale spots. The parents group is flexible in that if you have time, you can volunteer for a while, then ease off when your schedule is crazy.
Hello Brettny,
Our daughter that is now 4 years old is with Bright Future Early Learning Center since she was 2 years old. I would highly recommend it, given our experience. Even though we were in the infant-toddler room for about 6 months only, I have seen how caring all teachers are with the infants. Let me know if you have specific questions that I can answer.
Thanks,
Andriani
Hi, I'd love to recommend Bright Future! My son is almost 4 and has attended BFELC since he was 4 months old. The teachers in the toddler and infant rooms are extremely warm and caring; they are magic baby whisperers. The lead teachers there have also been at the school a long time. As your child gets older, the school does a good job of growing with you and your child's needs. The school is also clean and there is high security at the State Building; we like the fact that the state licensing center for daycares is in the state building, too--feels like it holds them to an extra-high standard.