Bright Future Early Learning Center

Community Subscriber

Oakland, CA

Facility Type[?]:
Childcare Center
DSS Facility License #
013422432 [view license]
Website:
https://www.brightfutureoakland.org/
Owner:
private non-profit childcare center
(510) 835-4012
Location:
Oakland
94612
Downtown Oakland (1515 Clay St.)
Maximum Capacity:
52
Language(s) Spoken:
English
Ages Served:
3 months - 72 months
Hours:
7:30am to 5:30pm
Editors' Notes:
  • Infant Center License 013422433 (capacity=20)
  • Preschool License 013422432 (capacity=32)
About the Program:

Bright Future is a non-profit organization with strong ties within the Oakland community. We are located in the Elihu M. Harris State Building right in the heart of Downtown Oakland! We accept children ages 3 months-5 years old. We are currently open M-Th from 7:30 am-5:30 pm and on Fridays from 7:30 am-5:00 pm. Morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack-all meals are included in your tuition. We are a play-based program and encourage a love for learning through play-based interactions.

3 parent questions ▼
2 parent reviews ▼

Parent Q&A

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  • Current experience at Bright Future Learning Center?

    –
    Jul 15, 2024

    Does anyone have experience with Bright Future Learning Center this year? I'm wondering if your toddler is happy there, if you feel that you can communicate well with the teachers, and if you're generally pleased with your choice. Specific anecdotes would be very helpful!

    Jul 15, 2024

    We started this year in the toddler room and really like it! Our daughter is on the younger side for the room, and initially we were concerned about her adjustment to a mixed age classroom with a lot of kids, but she is happy and thriving and genuinely loves her friends and teachers. The transition from a small in-home daycare setting was at first a little rough but once we got past the first week, it's been smooth sailing. She's also learned to be quite independent, her language has really blossomed, and she's picked up good ways of interacting with other kids. The teachers do a great job of coaching the kids and there's a good little parent community. Overall, very happy with our choice to go to Bright Future!

    Jul 17, 2024

  • Bright Future Early Learning Center

    –
    Feb 15, 2023

    Does anyone have experience with Bright Future Early Learning Center in downtown Oakland? Would you recommend that spot for infant daycare for a child that is 9 months?

    Thank you!

    Brettny

    Feb 15, 2023

    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

    Feb 22, 2023

    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. 

    Feb 22, 2023

  • Reviews of Bright Future Early Learning Center Oakland

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    Oct 5, 2016

    We are looking at Bright Future Early Learning Center for our 16-month-old daughter. They are now a non-profit business run by the Oakland State Building Kid Corporation board and is no longer contracted with 4Cs of Alameda County. I've read some lovely reviews on BPN about the director, Laura McNair, of her time running a home-based day care in Montclair. Appreciate any recent notes on the program, teachers, director, etc. Thanks in advance.

    Oct 5, 2016

    Sorry this is not recent info. My daughter attended Bright Futures from 2012-2015 when it was part.of 4C's, but I can assure you that the director, Laura, is amazing. Such a kind woman who truly cares about every child there. We had a good experience. All the teachers are different now, but I have several friends who currently have kids there and they are quite happy.

    Oct 12, 2016

    I really liked the program for my son who started at BF when he was about a year old.  It's a solid good daycare/preschool. with good teachers and a nice yard with play structures.  I highly recommend taking a tour of the facility and meeting with Laura.  I toured other nearby centers and didn't like those as much.  It's a huge plus for our family is the location of BF, since one of us works in the same building, and another parent works just a few blocks away.  

    There are fancier daycares, but for us this one works, especially because of the location.  Now, about the cons.  There is quite a bit of teacher turnover, especially on the preschool side.  It may be just this last year or so, and so far our child seems ok with that, as they have been able to find qualified replacement teachers right away, but it makes it difficult to form a relationship with teachers and feel like a part of the center.  There's also a policy that could be an issue for you if you plan to arrive there after 9:30 am or after 5:30 pm:  one is charged $3 per minute if they drop a child off after 9:30 am, and also per each minute late at pick up.  I agree with the late pick up part of the policy, though it's a bit steep, but not with the late drop off part.  The late drop off is excused if a child has a doctor appointment in the morning,  

    Lastly, they don't do potty training until the child transfers to the preschool side of the school, usually around 2 years of age or so, even though there is a door that between the infant site and preschool, and it opens right into the bathroom area with nice child-size toilets and a multi-user sink.  With my son, the head teacher at the time refused to accommodate potty training (he was starting using a toilet at home), even when I offered to bring a potty.  It may be a teacher/student ration issue, but I think they could have found away to accommodate us. 

    None of this may be an issue for you.

    All in all, it's a good place.

    Oct 12, 2016

Parent Reviews

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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. 

Jan 7, 2021

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.

Aug 26, 2020