700 Parkwood Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
United States
AC4Ed is Charlotte’s largest nonprofit provider of Early Childhood programming and utilizes the Head Start approach to education. We provide comprehensive support services and home visitation resources for expectant mothers and children from birth to five, that promote early learning and development, health, and family well-being.
Our Afterschool programs focus on supporting curriculum and individual student progress through partnership between our staff, teachers, students, and families.
About Us
Alliance Center for Education, affectionately known as AC4Ed, was formerly known as Bethlehem Center of Charlotte until a rebranding in 2020. Bethlehem Center was founded in 1940 by the United Methodist Women in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Charlotte to provide much-needed childcare and support to mothers during WWII.
This support was greatly needed and expanded over the next several years. In 1956, services expanded into the Southside, Brookhill, and Wilmore Communities, offering Charlotte’s first free kindergarten programs, activities for school-age children and other family enrichment services. Today, AC4Ed operates in 10 Center locations across Charlotte, serving more than 800 families daily.
We still treasure our strong, continued relationship with the United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women, now known as the United Women in Faith. We are grateful to their dedication and passion for serving communities in need.
As we look to the future, we hope to bring our services to more families across the Mecklenburg Region. To see how you can help shape this future, visit our ac4ed.org/getinvolved page, including upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Our Mission
Our mission is to provide high-quality education and support for children in need through partnership with their families.
Our Vision
Our vision is to positively affect the future of children at risk by improving economic mobility through education.
Our Impact
Through our services to families and communities for more than 80 years, AC4Ed has become a trusted voice and partner for children and parents. We are honored to be ingrained in the communities we serve and are pleased to work alongside other organizations and partners that share our passion for serving children and families.
- Donations allow us to continue providing high-quality educational resources to communities and families in need.
- We provide comprehensive support services and home visitation resources for expectant mothers and children from birth to five.
- Our Afterschool programs focus on supporting curriculum and individual student progress through partnership between our staff and families.
