FL S0856

Requires prekindergarten instructors in school-year programs delivered by private providers and public schools to hold a bachelor's degree or higher in early childhood education, prekindergarten, primary education, preschool education, or family and consumer science beginning July 1, 2015.

Allows alternative bachelor's degrees in elementary education if the instructor was certified to teach children from birth through grade 6, provided the educator certificate is not suspended or revoked.

Mandates that classes with 12 or more students have one instructor meeting bachelor's degree requirements and one instructor holding at least a child development associate credential with completion of an emergent literacy training course.

Eliminates alternate educational credential pathways including associate's degrees in child development and credentials based on experience hours that were previously acceptable under the program.

Repeals section 1002.65 relating to aspirational goals for prekindergarten instructor credentials, making the new requirements mandatory rather than aspirational.