5.2.7
ECERS/ITERS Rating Scale
What is the ECERS/ITERS Rating Scale?
- Rating Scales (both revised)
- ECERS-R = Early Childhood (Preschool) Environment Rating Scale, Revised (HS)
- ITERS-R = Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scale, Revised (EHS)
- Used in all SHS programs
- Mandatory for state programs
- To ensure that Performance Standards are met
Purpose
- Ensure that we’re providing a high-quality learning environment for all children
- Education Department uses the rating scale when observing the teaching staff and provide feedback to the staff on their strengths and areas for improvement
- The Teaching staff uses the tool and resources associated with the tool to set up their environment at the beginning of the year and on a daily basis to maintain a high-quality environment
ERSI – Environmental Rating Scales Institute
There are four Environment Rating Scales (ERS), each designed for a different segment of the early childhood field. Head Start uses the revised versions of the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS-R) and the Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale (ITERS-R) rating scales.
- Each one of the scales has items to evaluate: Physical Environment; Basic Care; Curriculum; Interaction; Schedule and Program Structure; and Provisions for Parent and Staff.
- The scales are suitable for use in evaluating inclusive and culturally diverse programs.
- The scales have proven reliability and validity.
For more information on ERSI, visit Environment Rating Scales Institute.
Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale, Revised (ECERS-R)
The revised ECERS scale contains inclusive and culturally sensitive indicators for many items. Also, new items have been added on Interaction (staff-child, child-child and discipline), Curriculum (nature/science and math/number), Health & Safety and Parents & Staff.
This scale consists of 43 items organized into 7 subscales:
- Space and Furnishings
- Personal Care Routines
- Language-Reasoning
- Activities
- Interactions
- Program Structure
- Parents and Staff
For more information, refer to the ECERS Introduction.
Infant/Toddler Environmental Rating Scale, Revised (ITERS-R)
A thorough revision of the original ITERS, designed to assess center-based child care programs for infants and toddlers up to 30 months of age.
This scale consists of 39 items organized into 7 subscales:
- Space and Furnishings
- Personal Care Routines
- Listening and Talking
- Activities
- Interaction
- Program Structure
- Parents and Staff
For more information, refer to the ITERS Introduction.
ERS Resources for Teaching Staff
The following resources are used by Education staff members at the beginning of the year and throughout the year as they setup and maintain classroom environments, and develop lesson plans and daily schedules.
ECERS-R Resources
- ECERS Cards – These cards provide information and suggestions on the materials which should be present in classrooms to promote learning. Teachers/Staff should print these cards and reference them as they carry out weekly planning. There are cards for Books and Pictures, Fine Motor, Art, Blocks, Sand/Water, Dramatic Play, Nature Science and Math/Number.
- ECERS Activity Area Set Up/Substantial Portion – This checklist is used to track the materials which should be present in the classrooms (also see the ECERS Cards). Teachers/Staff should print this form and use it to record the number and types of items in the classroom for Books and Pictures, Fine Motor, Art, Music/Movement, Blocks, Sand/Water, Dramatic Play, Nature/Science and Math/Number. There is also an area to trach promoting of acceptance/diversity.
- Substantial Portion of the Day – “Substantial portion of the day” means at least one-third of the time the children are in attendance. Substantial portion of the day is used to ensure that children have sufficient access to play, learning materials and experiences that optimize their development. The “substantial portion of the day” does not have to occur at one time.
This document includes a list of 11 items of the ECERS that rate substantial portion of the day and a chart for calculating the “substantial portion of the day”
ITERS-R Resources
- ITERS Material Guide – list for Infant Toddler that tells Teaching staff how many of each type of material is needed for each scenario/room. Used for weekly planning.
- ITERS-R Materials Checklist – This is a checklist that Teaching staff would use to ensure they have correct types and variety of materials for the different areas (Using books, Fine Motor, Active Physical Play, etc.)
- Much of the Day (ITERS-R) – This document explains what “Much of the Day” means in regards to ITERS-R and outlines the items that should be available in classrooms throughout the day for Preschool/Infants & Toddlers. . In most items, “much of the day” is associated with the children’s access to materials typically used indoors (e.g., books, art materials, fine motor, or dramatic play toys). It means most of the time that any child may be awake and able to play.
- ITERS Scoring Guidance – This document provides an overview of how the Education team comes up with ratings
Monitoring Procedures
ECERS/ITERS monitors are completed by authorized Child Development Department staff for the following purposes;
- Ensure that we’re providing a high-quality learning environment for all children
- Ensure Performance Standards and Title V regulations are met
- Education Department uses the rating scale when observing the teaching staff and provide feedback to the staff on their strengths and areas for improvement using the Child Development Monitoring Report [link to forms}
There are two version of the report:
Score Sheets
Can be used by Site Supervisors or Head Teachers for self-monitoring purposes.
The Score sheets are used to take notes and complete ratings.
References
- Environment Rating Scales Institute
- ITERS Introduction
- ITERS Supplementary Materials
- Education Team would print these and have with them for observations
- Teachers, Site Supervisors and Primary Caregivers can view these
- ITERS Additional Notes for Updated ITERS-r
- ECERS Introduction
- ECERS Supplementary Materials
- ECERS Additional Notes for Updated ECERS
- *Everyone has access to these sites.