Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Information

Early Child Environment Rating Scales, Revised Edition (ECERS-R)

Infant Toddler Environment Rating Scales, Revised Edition (ITERS-R)  

General information and scoring for both scales are part of the required training Introduction to Nevada’s Silver State Stars QRIS for center administrators. For more information on the ERS, please visit the ERS Institute website: http://www.ersi.info/

An overall ERS score for each center will be determined based on the scores averaged from 50% of each age group: infant-toddler (birth to 30 months) and preschool (2.5 to 5 years).  

Star Level 3
Center has a minimum average ERS score of 3.50-3.99, with no classroom under 3.00.

Star Level 4
Center has a minimum average ERS score of 4.00-4.49, with no classroom under 4.00.

Star Level 5
Center has a minimum average ERS sore of 4.50-5.00, with no classroom score under 4.50.

Site Visit Protocol 

  1. Once you have submitted your coaching application or you have submitted your online portfolio and application to be rated, an assessor will call you to schedule the assessments
  2. Together you will determine the number and days of the site visits
  3. 50% of each age group will be randomly chosen for assessment. For this call, the assessor will need to know how many classrooms serve children mostly 2.5 years of age and younger (ITERS-R), and how many serve mostly children 2.5 years of age and older (ECERS-R)
  4. Let the staff know what to expect, when to expect it and how to proceed
  5. The assessor will arrive 15 minutes before the first observation for a brief center tour: layout of classrooms, outdoor areas, any group spaces, adult bathroom, etc.
  6. Assessor will randomly choose a classroom for observation that day and gather classroom information Information needed from the classroom:
    • Birthdates of oldest and youngest child in that class
    • Amount and type of disabilities currently served in that class
    • Staffing patterns in that room throughout a typical day
    • Start and end times in that classroom if different from posted center hours
  7. Assessor will immediately proceed to the classroom and begin observation
  8. Assessor will remain with children in that group for at least three and up to five hours, or until the assessor has gathered the needed information
  9. Assessor will not interact with staff or children and will try not to influence the activities or typical events in the classroom
  10. Assessor will be writing constantly
  11. Assessor will need to meet with lead teacher for about 20 minutes (usually during nap) following assessment
  12. No immediate feedback will be given on that day 

Recommended Resources:  

All About the ITERS-R and All About the ECERS-R

Centers participating in the coaching program will receive both scales and both books. Both the scales and books can be purchased at:

Kaplan Early Learning Company: http://www.ersi.info/

Teachers College Press: http://www.tcpress.com/index.html

ECERS-R Additional Notes 1-14.pdf

ITERS-R Additional Notes 9-13.pdf

FAMILY CHILD CARE-R Additional Notes

ERS Supplemental Information