Environmental Rating Scales for Early Childhood Program Quality
The Environmental Rating Scales were designed to assess the
quality of an early childhood program.
The quality is based on various areas of a program. There are four different rating scales
designed for different segments of the early childhood field.
The quality rating is from 1 to 7. One (1) is considered inadequate and seven
(7) would be an excellent score in a particular area.
The early childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS) is
designed to assess the preschool and kindergarten programs for children 2
through 5 years of age.
The Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS) is for
assessing children from birth to 2 1/2 years of age.
The School Age Care Environmental Rating Scale (SACERS) is
for school age assessment.
For the family child care program, there is the FCCERS or
the Family Child Care Environmental Rating Scale. This scale is designed for
assessing the home program of infants to school-agers.
Here are some of the area that are looked at during the
assessment:
• Space and
Furnishings
• Personal
Care Routines
• Language-Reasoning/
Listening and Talking
• Health and
Safety
• Staff
Development
• Activities
• Interactions
• Program
Structure
• Parents and
Staff/Provider
We use the assessments when helping a program to get to the
highest level of quality on the YoungStar rating scale in Wisconsin. Each classroom is visited and looked at using the rating scale score sheet and then a detailed written report is completed which lists recommendations for improvement.
Contact Networx, to have your program assessed with the
Environmental Rating Scales by a State and Registry approved PDAS Master
Consultant.
Tina Oliver, M.Ed.
Training and Development Specialist
Early Childhood Training, Resource and Consulting Company
Getchildcaretraining.com
Getchildcaretraining.com