About West Contra Costa County Public Schools

Hi East Bay families!

My post is about WCCUSD with a goal for full inclusion for a three-year-old with an IEP, touching on WCCUSD state preschool, Cameron school special ed, Richmond college prep and elementary school options for Marina Bay families who choose not to do dual-immersion at Washington elementary.

My family and I are relocating to Richmond CA from Finland in June for my work. We will have temporary housing in Marina Bay where we expect to find a permanent home.

Our son just turned three and has an IEP in Finland owing to Down syndrome and mild hearing loss (no hearing aids). Currently he is thriving in a fully inclusive setting - an English language daycare he has attended since he was 10 months old -  with a wonderful American 1:1 and push-in therapies. His speech is unclear but he has short individual words in three languages (primarily in English but also Finnish and Swedish - we do OPOL), and also 130+ active ASL signs. Our son loves to learn, enjoys music and snowboarding, likes to pretend count (knows 1-10 ends in 10) and recognizes phonics sounds/some letters.

Our goal continues to be full inclusion and integration for our son, with access to the general curriculum. Now that our son just turned three, I am aware that he will qualify for special ed services through the school district (WCCUSD) after we move. We are also aware of the state preschool program, and that as per official guidance as a child with special needs/IEP he should be given priority (2nd preference, we qualify on income) admission.

My preference is for a full-time state preschool program for full inclusion so I initially contacted Franklin preschool in Berkeley. The director at Franklin preschool was wonderful but said that while non-Berkeley residents are eligible for state preschool in Berkeley, a child with an IEP residing outside of Berkeley may receive more limited support at a BUDS preschool since they are not eligible for special Ed BUDS supports for Berkeley residents. She did speak highly of Cameron school with their special ed supports before TK and K in WCCUSD. 

When I called the office at Cameron school, I did not get a lot of detailed information. I was told to wait until we are in the country and expect delays due to the summer. I was told they would take my son's IEP and attempt to match that initially, before a reassessment. But it was unclear what, if anything, Cameron school might have for our son before TK and K. The WCCUSD preschool website only mentions half-day state preschool offerings at other sites including Washington elementary, our neighborhood school.

So, WCCUSD families, here's what I'd like to know:

(1) State preschool programs - Are there any full-time state preschool programs for three-year-olds in WCCUSD schools, to continue with our full inclusion experience?  If so, please share what you know!

(2) Cameron school - Does Cameron school offer a full-day or a half-day M-F program for three-year-olds with IEPs who are on track for full inclusion? Has the program set up your kids for inclusion success in TK and K?

(3) Richmond college prep - Have any of your kids attended the RCP preschool or school? If so, what's been your experience? We like the program and ESY and would work with the school to bring in a 1:1 if needed.

(4) Marina Bay families - if your kids don't do dual-immersion at Washington elementary, does WCCUSD then offer a place in one of the  El Cerrito elementary schools? 

Thanks in advance!

Hello 👋 need help and suggestions! Currently I am looking for good enough charter schools and district schools for my son who will be 5 years old next year. We live in Pinole area. The schools can be from Hercules to Oakland areas (for school district is within West Contra Costa). Any recommendations what they are? And tips how to look? We just recently had a IEP meeting and plan to bring the updated IEP report to share to the school and come to check out the school. Any tips on this?

My family is moving to Richmond and our first grader will attend Mira Vista School.  We're looking for after school programs and are having a hard time finding anything.  The free, school based program is at capacity with no availability.  We do not think Berkeley JCC will pick up at Mira Vista.  Any advice?   

We are moving just a few blocks away, but this has shifted our school zone to Kensington Hilltop rather than El Cerrito. My rising kindergartener is not enrolled there, and I understand that they are at capacity for the fall. This is our first experience of the public school system. I would like to know how it works if your child is placed on the waitlist but does not get into their zoned school in this case. Does she get placed in the closest local school with space? (Harding and Madera are both also at capacity already.) Is it a totally random and inscrutable assignment/process? When do you find out? I know that Kensington has been oversubscribed for many years and thus, there must be many out there who have experienced this confusion before. Would love some guidance. Thank you.