Brief Overview of Standard: Daily activities and interactions within early care and education programs are indicators that a program is providing an environment and experiences that are safe, healthy, and stimulating for all children. The fundamental elements of quality teaching and learning practice include well-organized and managed learning environments, responsive social and emotional supports, and the use of curricula materials and meaningful instructional interactions to facilitate children’s thinking and skill development.
Environment Rating Scales Tip Sheets
Tip Sheets are included to help your program be successful in the assessment process.
Preparing for Assessments
Specific Tools - Assessment of Learning Enviroment
Environment Rating Scales
The Environment Rating Scales (ERS) are designed to assess process quality in an early childhood care group. Process quality consists of the various interactions that go on in a classroom between staff and children, staff, parents, and other adults, among the children themselves, and the interactions children have with the many materials and activities in the environment, as well as those features, such as space, schedule, and materials that support these interactions.
Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale, Revised Edition (FCCERS-R)
FCCERS-R is designed to assess family child care programs conducted in a provider's home for children from infancy through school-age.
The scale consists of 38 items organized into 7 subscales:
- Space and Furnishings
- Personal Care Routines
- Listening and Talking
- Activities
- Interaction
- Program Structure
- Parents and Provider