About
Elizabeth Perry Rushton Child Development Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit childcare and early childhood education center in downtown Birmingham, Alabama, founded in 1995. The center serves children from 6 weeks to 7 years, with capacity for up to 108 children. Programs include Infant (6 weeks-18 months, 1:4 ratio), Toddler (18-36 months, 1:7), Preschool (2.5-4 years, 1:11), a First Class Pre-K program for ages 4-5 governed by the State of Alabama, and a Summer Camp for ages 4-7. Classrooms are designed for active learning with a balance of teacher-led and child-initiated activities that support social, emotional, physical, cognitive, and language development.
Licensed by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, the center first achieved national accreditation in 1997 through the National Association for the Education of Young Children and has maintained state-certified Pre-K status since 2013. Teachers are trained in CPR and First Aid. Families receive daily updates through the Brightwheel app, and the center uses WatchMeGrow live cameras. Hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
Founded with support from First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham and downtown corporate partners, the center operates independently as a nonprofit governed by a board of directors composed of parents, FPC representatives, and community members. Its mission is to provide high-quality, nurturing care for families who live and/or work in downtown Birmingham and surrounding areas.