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Early Care and Education

We take a community-centered, structural approach to create stronger and more equitable ECE systems, programs, and policies.

What We Do

Fixing fractured systems

ECE programs and services rely on myriad governance and accountability structures and a complex maze of funding streams from multiple public and private sources. And yet, it’s still woefully inadequate to provide the services children and families need or to recruit and retain exceptional educators. Fortunately, communities are shining a spotlight on the imperative of ECE for child development and economic capacity. But before more money enters the system, we have to ensure it can be used effectively and equitably. We help states reimagine and restructure governance and funding systems to build coherence, uplift educators and providers, and support effective programs — so that all resources are pulling in the same direction in service of children, families, and communities.

How We Do It

Collaborative insight, robust research and analysis, and thoughtful planning

The time is now to create systems that serve children and families well, uplift the ECE workforce, support providers and encourage new entrants, and enable economically healthy communities. We walk with partners to ideate, develop, and implement change through services including:

  • Task force and commission facilitation
  • Community engagement
  • Needs assessments and gap analyses
  • Cost-modeling and funding studies (across child care, preschool, Early Intervention, early childhood special education, home visiting programs, and other services)
  • Funding policy design and implementation
  • Workforce compensation and benefits studies
  • Service access, equity, and adequacy studies
  • Program design, implementation, and technical assistance
  • State and local governance planning and analysis
  • Agency and program budgeting and financial planning & analysis




Center for Early Learning Funding Equity | State of Illinois

“With Afton, we got the very best of what a consultant can be. Beyond providing technical expertise and great process facilitation, the Afton team were true partners in the work—sharpening our thinking and communication to address the complex challenges and opportunities our state was facing in its early childhood system.”

Theresa Hawley, formerly of the Illinois Governor’s Office

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