Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures
Afton Partners is an impact-driven consultancy that reimagines and implements systems, policies, and practices that improve lives. We bring technical savvy and a relational approach to partnerships with clients across the early care and education, K-12, higher education, and workforce development sectors.
To support our partners, we conduct stakeholder engagement, design strategic policies and programs, and provide research and analysis. Our context-sensitive methods allow us to co-design system-wide structural improvements, develop funding and management strategies, and equip leaders to strategically allocate resources in ways that serve their communities. We know meaningful change requires more than bold innovation and actionable strategy, which is why we provide a full lifecycle of services, walking with clients from ideation to implementation across all service areas.
We are real people serving real people, and our work puts people first. The best processes and solutions pursue justice and center those most impacted, so we approach every engagement in a way that includes individuals furthest from opportunity and honors lived experience as the expertise it is.
We’re creative, committed, and energized by complexity. Together, we can solve our toughest societal challenges and co-create a future where each person has the opportunity for growth and fulfillment.
Consistent Vision, Expanding Scope
Afton Partners began in 2011 with two passionate partners and one big vision: everyone will have the opportunity to lead a fulfilled life regardless of race or social status.
Our work began in education funding policy and financial sustainability. As our work progressed, we saw the interconnectedness of education to childcare, early education, higher education, and workforce development, and we experienced the power of meaningfully engaging communities toward public policy and practice solutions.
From 2019-2021, we expanded our services into early care and education, higher education, and workforce development. We broadened our service solutions to include community engagement, facilitation, research, and government systems improvement.
As of 2024, our team has grown to over 30 colleagues, and we’ve partnered with over 150 states, counties, cities, schools, districts, and state leaders in 40 states and territories and counting.
While our depth, breadth, and strategy have expanded considerably, the vision—and commitment to it— remains the same. We attribute our impact and growth to the two things of which we’re most proud: unparalleled expertise and an approach that prioritizes people and relationships.
ECE Workforce Initiatives
Despite their qualifications and the unique demands of the profession, ECE workforce members are often paid in ways that put them near the poverty line. We partner with clients to create innovative solutions that improve compensation.
Community-Informed School Funding Policy
Funding policy is a strategic enabler in shaping outcomes. Afton used an approach rooted in data and community insight to improve education funding policy in the District of Columbia.