BOCA Meeting Minutes

Date: October 26, 2026
Next Meeting: November 23, 2026

View recording of the meeting here.

Auto summary of meeting transcript is below:

1. Welcome and Introductions

Rebecca Compton welcomed members back following the summer break and reviewed the meeting agenda. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation from the Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children (RIAEYC), followed by updates and discussion of issues affecting early childhood education programs.

2. Guest Speakers: Rhode Island Association for the Education of Young Children (RIAEYC)

Guest speakers:

• Marinel Russo, Deputy Director
• Amber Mangione, Apprenticeship Coordinator
• Lisa Hildebrand, Executive Director

Rhode Island Early Childhood Registered Apprenticeship Program

RIAEYC presented an overview of its Registered Apprenticeship Program, a workforce development initiative supporting early childhood educators through additional education, on-the-job learning, mentorship, and professional advancement.

Program overview:

• The program combines on-the-job learning with related instruction, allowing educators to apply what they learn directly in their classrooms.
• Participants work with mentors and coaches who help connect their coursework to classroom practices.
• Educators are expected to receive wage increases as they complete program requirements and demonstrate progress in their training.
• Participants earn a nationally recognized credential upon completion.
• The program initially focused on infant and toddler teachers and has since expanded to include preschool teachers.
• Funding includes support from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services and the federal Apprenticeship Building America grant, distributed through Building Futures.

Spring 2027 Cohort and Enrollment

RIAEYC is currently recruiting for its Spring 2027 cohort. One available pathway is the Birth to Three Certificate of Undergraduate Studies.

The presentation highlighted the benefits of registered apprenticeships for employers and educators, including professional development, classroom support, credential attainment, and workforce advancement.

Member Discussion: Accessibility and Training Requirements

Members discussed barriers to participating in the apprenticeship program, particularly the availability of in-person training.

• Some programs are interested in the Birth to Three pathway but do not provide infant and toddler care, creating questions about which pathway is appropriate for their staff.
• The requirement to attend in-person classes can be a challenge for programs located farther from training sites.
• Members noted that many educational resources are now available remotely and expressed interest in accessible training options.

These comments highlighted the importance of considering program type, geographic accessibility, and training format when evaluating apprenticeship opportunities.

3. New Regulations and Licensing Requirements

Members discussed challenges related to licensing requirements, particularly expectations regarding staff schedules and personnel listed on a center’s license.

Staff Scheduling and Licensed Personnel

Members shared experiences involving licensing reviews in which administrators or other individuals listed on a center’s license were questioned because they did not appear on the facility’s staff schedule.

Examples included:

• Executive directors who oversee programs but do not regularly work at an individual center.
• Founders or other leadership personnel who oversee multiple locations rather than being assigned to a specific site.
• Human resources staff whose roles may involve supporting multiple locations and who may not have previously appeared on individual center schedules.

Members noted that these situations can be difficult to explain because individuals may appropriately be listed on a license without being regularly scheduled to work at a particular location.

There was hope that feedback from providers would help clarify expectations and account for the different roles of administrative and leadership personnel.

4. RISES: Updates and Member Feedback

Members shared feedback about the RISES system, including positive experiences with automated reminders and challenges with documentation submissions.

Positive Feedback

Members appreciated the automated reminders, particularly reminders about employee flu vaccinations. These notifications reduce the administrative burden on providers by eliminating the need to send every reminder individually.

Flu Vaccination Documentation

Members discussed difficulties getting flu vaccination records accepted in RISES.

One provider explained that visiting nurses had administered flu vaccines at the center and provided a document confirming the date of the visit. However, the document did not include each employee’s name and date of birth.

• Some records were initially rejected because the documentation did not contain the expected information.
• The provider found that adding each employee’s name and date of birth by hand allowed the records to be accepted.
• The provider had recently uploaded documentation from the current year’s vaccination visit and was waiting to see whether the records would be accepted during review.

Members expressed interest in seeing whether the current submissions would be processed successfully.

Key takeaway: Automated reminders are a helpful feature, but clearer documentation requirements and consistent acceptance of vaccination records would help providers manage compliance more efficiently.

5. Legislative Updates

Rebecca reported that there had been limited legislative activity because of the approaching election.

Members were advised that significant new legislative developments were not expected before the November meeting. Updates may focus primarily on political developments until the next legislative session.

The group will continue monitoring issues affecting early childhood education and revisit advocacy priorities as the 2027 legislative session approaches.

6. BOCA Planning for 2027

The group began looking ahead to BOCA’s priorities for 2027, including membership, lobbying, and advocacy goals.

Membership Recruitment and Renewals

Rebecca will send reminders encouraging members to join or renew their BOCA membership.

The group hopes to increase participation and strengthen membership heading into the new year.

Lobbyist

Members will need to consider whether BOCA should continue working with a lobbyist in 2027.

Discussion included the seasonal nature of lobbying activity, which is generally more focused from January through June when the legislature is in session.

The group will need to evaluate whether continuing this arrangement aligns with its goals and advocacy needs.

Goals and Focus

Members were encouraged to begin thinking about BOCA’s priorities for the coming year.

Potential planning areas include:

• Identifying key legislative and regulatory concerns affecting early childhood education providers.
• Determining which issues should receive the greatest advocacy attention.
• Evaluating the value of continued lobbyist support.
• Strengthening membership and participation.

The intention is to begin considering priorities now and work toward defining the group’s direction as the end of the year approaches and the 2027 legislative session begins.

No final decisions regarding the lobbyist or specific advocacy goals were confirmed in the transcript provided.

7. Member Topics of Discussion

During the open discussion, members returned to the apprenticeship presentation and shared practical considerations affecting participation.

One member explained that a preschool teacher had been interested in the Birth to Three pathway, but the program did not offer infant and toddler care. This raised questions about whether the pathway was appropriate for the teacher’s setting.

Members also reiterated that in-person training can be a significant barrier for staff who live or work far from training locations. Given the availability of remote learning, flexible training options could make professional development more accessible.

These comments reinforced the need for training opportunities that reflect the different types of early childhood programs and the geographic challenges providers face.

8. Action Items and Follow-Up

Based on the discussion, the following items may require follow-up:

• BOCA membership: Rebecca will send reminders encouraging members to join or renew their membership.
• Lobbyist: Members will consider whether to continue lobbyist services for the 2027 legislative session.
• 2027 priorities: Members should begin identifying advocacy goals and areas of focus for the coming year.
• RISES documentation: Providers will monitor whether recently submitted flu vaccination records are accepted and continue sharing feedback about documentation requirements.
• Licensing requirements: Continue sharing experiences and concerns regarding staff scheduling and personnel listed on center licenses.
• Apprenticeship opportunities: Members interested in the program may follow up with RIAEYC regarding available pathways, eligibility, and training accessibility.

These are follow-up considerations rather than confirmed assignments unless specifically noted.

9. Next Meeting

Date: November 23, 2026

Members are encouraged to bring updates, questions, and proposed advocacy priorities as BOCA begins planning for 2027.