Keystone STARS & Pre-k Counts

Environment Rating Scales (ERS)

The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are observational assessment tools used to evaluate the quality of early childhood programs.  The ERS tools have been internationally tested for reliability and validity in providing information about the quality of childhood programs, based on current research regarding positive child outcomes.

There are four scales that are utilized in the PA Quality Initiatives: the Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale - Revised (ITERS-R), the Early Childhood Rating Scale - Revised (ECERS-R), the School-Age Environment Rating Scale (SACERS), and the Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale - Revised (FCCERS-R). The tool utilized is dependent on the setting and age range of the children in a particular program.

Each ERS scale is divided into criteria that assess the program's physical environment, health and safety procedures, materials, interpersonal relationships, and opportunities for learning and development.

What do I have to fill out to request a visit from an ERS assessor?

• Request for ERS Validation Visit STAR 3-4 Centers (for centers)
• Request for ERS Validation Visit (for family & group)

How are the ERS tools used?

The ERS tools may be used by teachers, directors, technical assistance providers, and researchers.

Program staff may use the tools to complete a self-assessment of the quality of their classrooms, and to determine areas of high quality and areas that may need additional attention.  Technical assistance providers may use the tools to determine action plans for working with programs.  Researchers may use the tools to examine the quality of programs over time.

Why is an ERS assessment important?

When providers use the ERS scales to assess their own classrooms or have an outside assessor conduct assessments, they learn valuable information about strengths and areas of growth needed in each classroom and age group.  Using this information helps the providers make decisions about what areas of quality can be addressed in the early learning program.  ERS assessments also help Keystone STARS providers celebrate growth as they achieve the scores needed for STAR 3 and STAR 4 and make decisions about continuous quality improvement.

How do providers learn more about using the ERS tools?

In Pennsylvania, providers participating in Early Childhood Initiatives may access ERS professional development through the online professional development calendar.  The ERS Foundations course provides an overview of the structure and scoring of the ERS tools, and is a prerequisite for the tool-specific courses (ITERS-R, ECERS-R, SACERS). Family and Group Childcare programs may access a combined course (FCCERS-R).

To find out more about this professional development and when it is offered in your area, click here or contact your Regional Key.

Determining the appropriate environment rating scale for child care centers

The chart below provides guidance for child care providers to determine which ERS training is most appropriate for their facility and which scale is appropriate for an individual classroom. To determine which scale should be used in mixed-age groupings, the provider should determine the age of the majority of the children in the group and use the ERS scale developed for that age group.

In situations where there is an equal age distribution of children for the ITERS-R and for the ECERS-R, or where there is an equal age distribution of children for the ECERS-R and the SACERS, use the scale designed for the older group of children. This takes into account the emerging developmental needs of the younger children.

The following guidelines refer to typically developing children. In classrooms where at least half of the children are experiencing significant developmental delays, the developmental age of the majority of the children will determine the appropriate scale to use.

 
Determining the appropriate environment rating scale for Family Day Care and Group Day Care Facilities

Family Day Care

The FCCERS-R will be used to assess all family day care homes.

Group Day Care

The FCCERS-R will be used to assess all GDC homes that are located in a residence.

In group day care homes that are not in the provider’s residence, and the program is set up to serve one particular age group, the corresponding age appropriate scale should be used. For instance, if the group day care is located in a church and provides care for school-age children only, the appropriate scale is the SACERS.

	GDC IN A RESIDENCE	GDC OUT OF RESIDENCE
Age groups separated by room, as in a center	FCCERS-R	ITERS-R or ECERS-R or SACERS Age of the majority of the children in the group will determine which training the provider should take and which scale will be used for assessment
Classrooms serving children in grades 1-6 only	FCCERS-R	SACERS
Mixed age groups	FCCERS-R	FCCERS-R

Position Statements

• ECERS-R PA Position Statements
• ITERS-R PA Position Statements
• SACERS PA Position Statements
• FCCERS-R PA Position Statements 

Additional resources

• Top Ten Questions About ERS Assessment 
• Why Use the ERS in Quality Rating Systems?
• Getting Started on Using Environment Rating Scales through "Learning Conversations"
• Preparing for an ERS Visit
• Preparando para la visita ERS (Preparing for an ERS Visit Spanish version)
• Who's That Stranger In the Classroom?
• Taking an ERS Look at the Big Picture: It's More Than the Score
• Faithful to the Process: Bev Bos & the ERS
• 5 Tips for SACERS & CQI
• Unlocking the Secrets to Quality Early Childhood Education: As Easy As Answering, How Would I Feel?
• Diaper Changing Procedures
• Procedimientos para Cambiar Panales (Diaper Changing Procedures Spanish Version)
• Guidelines for Creating a Procedure of Changing Soiled Disposable Pull-Up Underpants or Cloth Underwear in your Child Care Facility 
• CACFP Meal Guidelines for Infants & Toddlers
• CACFP Meal Guidelines for Ages 1-12
• Hand Washing & Liquid Soap
• Process v Product: The Importance of Individual Expression Through Art
• What is "Gender Specific" Clothing?
• Providing Nature and Science Experiences for Young Children
• A Courageous Friend

LINKS

• Author's Website
• Caring For Our Children
• Public Playground Safety Handbook