The Academy of Learning and Character Development

10/17/2026

💙 A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO WAFF 48 NEWS & REPRESENTATIVE MARILYN LANDS! 💙

We want to extend our heartfelt appreciation to Anjolina Fantaroni of WAFF 48 News for shining a light on Alabama's growing childcare crisis and the thousands of families waiting months for much-needed childcare assistance.

We are also incredibly grateful to State Rep. Marilyn Lands for her continued compassion, advocacy, and commitment to fighting for Alabama's children, families, and childcare providers. Thank you for recognizing that this is not just a childcare issue—it's a workforce issue, an economic issue, and a crisis affecting the future of our communities.

At the Academy for Learning and Character Development (ALCD), we witness firsthand the struggles families face when affordable childcare is out of reach. Parents should never have to choose between earning a paycheck and ensuring their children are safe, cared for, and receiving a quality early education.

Childcare is not a luxury. It is a necessity! Every family deserves access to affordable, quality care, and every childcare provider deserves the support needed to keep their doors open.

Thank you, Anjolina, for helping give these families a voice, and thank you, Representative Lands, for standing up and fighting for meaningful change!

📢 We cannot afford to let this crisis go unheard. Our children, families, and workforce are depending on us!

📰 Read the full WAFF 48 News story here:
https://www.waff.com/2026/10/17/thousands-alabama-families-wait-months-child-care-help/

More than 2,700 Alabama families need help paying for child care through a federal subsidy program, but a limited pool of funding has left them on a waitlist with no timeline for assistance.

10/17/2026

What an exciting "Grossology" lesson that brought so much joy to our students. Thank you again The Earlyworks Family of Museums. We just had to share some of these amazing photos captured by Cultural Roots Photography

10/16/2026

A HUGE thank-you to The Earlyworks Family of Museums for bringing their fascinating Grossology exhibit to ALCD and giving our students an unforgettable hands-on science experience!

Our little scientists explored the wonderfully gross world of rot and decomposition, examined moldy foods and insects, and even got up close and personal with the star of the show—a Madagascar hissing cockroach! 🪳😱

The learning didn't stop there! Students also discovered just how easily germs spread through an exciting experiment using luminescent cream that made invisible germs come to life! 🦠✨

Experiences like these are exactly why we love hands-on learning! Through curiosity, exploration, and a little bit of grossness, our students are developing critical thinking skills, discovering the wonders of science, and learning that education can be FUN!

💙 Thank you, EarlyWorks Children's Museum, for investing your time, knowledge, and enthusiasm into our young learners! We are grateful for community partners who help us bring STEM education to life and inspire the next generation of curious minds!

10/08/2026

As Huntsville continues to grow, one challenge is becoming impossible to ignore: the shortage of affordable childcare. Families are struggling to find available spots, and childcare providers are facing rising costs, staffing challenges, and limited resources. Recent concerns over federal childcare assistance funding only add more uncertainty for working parents who rely on these programs to stay employed or continue their education. Childcare is not just a family issue—it is an economic issue that impacts our workforce, businesses, and community growth. Investing in quality, affordable childcare is essential to supporting children, parents, and Huntsville’s future

The Academy of Learning and Character Development helps to bridge the gap between those who can pay and those who can't. We rely on donations from our community to continue to provide quality education. If you would like to sponsor a child reach out or make a donation here: paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/1514093





https://www.waff.com/2026/10/07/huntsvilles-growth-boom-intensifies-childcare-shortage/?outputType=amp

Huntsville is in the middle of a major growth boom, and families say the need for childcare is becoming more difficult to meet.

09/30/2026

We ❤️ our Community Partners. Thank you Fantasy Playhouse Children's Theater and Academy for inviting our little pirates to this amazing show! The Little Mermaid was spectacular. The costumes, songs, and actors grabbed our students attention the second the show started. By the end they were singing and clapping along. These experiences make a difference!

09/21/2026

What a wonderful weekend! We want to say a big Thank you to volunteers from St. John Paul II Catholic High School, Gospel Life Church and Amelia’s Diaper Closet for making sure we had a successful day. Through their efforts we held a large yard sale, bake sale, and sold fresh eggs. They also painted and did some much needed deep cleaning. Also a Thank you to Cultural Roots Photography for catching these happy moments.

06/15/2026

Thank you for coming out to ALCD Kid’s Fest. It was an amazing day full of fun, laughter and resources. ALCD Kid's Fest

ALCD Kids Fest 2026 had a goal of connecting the community with local resources and services that can provide various types of family support.

06/14/2026

06/12/2026

05/14/2026