Environmental Rating Scales (ERS)
The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are observational tools used to assess the quality of the environment in early care settings. Observations using the environment rating scales provide a brief snapshot of the classroom environment, as well as the children’s experiences in that classroom. The rating scales were developed by a team of early childhood professionals at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Thelma Harms, Richard M. Clifford and Debby Cryer. There are three versions of the Environment Rating Scales, each designed to assess a specific age group and early care setting. The following information provides a brief description of the Environment Rating Scales. The scales were designed to be used during an observation period of at least 2½ hours, but generally the assessor stays for at least 3 hours in the classroom give or take a few minutes. Depending on when the children arrive and when they go down for a nap, this can vary somewhat. The assessor will complete the observation first, then interview the caregiver for about 30 minutes to answer some questions. It would be possible to do the observation in shorter periods over the course of several days; however; the scores may not be reliable. In many ways the scales are time samples - to see whether things happen frequently enough for them to make a developmental difference to children. That is why for some items there are places where it specifies that the requirement must be observed at least once, or perhaps more, during the observation.
Rating Scale Information
The Environment Rating Scales are made up of seven subscales which focus on different aspects of the classroom environment, including:
- Space and Furnishings,
- Personal Care Routines,
- Listening and Talking,
- Activities,
- Interaction,
- Program Structure, and
- Parents and Staff.
The information collected from these subscales is then used to provide an overview of program quality, as well as to assign a score representing the quality of the programs environment. The quality rating score is based on a seven point scoring system. A rating scale score of 1 is considered representative of inadequate care, 3 minimal care, 5 good care, and 7 excellent care.
More information about the subscales listed here can be found at the University of North Carolina's FPG Child Development Institute:
- Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale Revised Edition (ECERS-R): This scale is designed to assess the quality of preschool environments located in center child care settings.
- Infant and Toddler Environment Rating Scale Revised Edition (ITERS-R): This scale is designed to assess the quality of care environments serving children birth to 30 months of age and is used in infant and toddler center classrooms.
- Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale Revised Edition (FCCERS-R): This scale is designed to assess the quality of the environment in family child care settings.