Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition

ECERS Cover Image

Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale®, Third Edition (ECERS-3™)

The Third Edition of the ECERS is a major revision that introduces innovations in both the content and administration of the scale while retaining the continuity of the two principal characteristics of the ECERS, namely its comprehensive or global definition of quality and the reliance on observation as the primary source of information on which to base assessment of classroom quality.

The Scale consists of 35 items organized into 6 subscales:

Space and Furnishings

  1. Indoor space
  2. Furnishings for care, play, and learning
  3. Room arrangement for play and learning
  4. Space for privacy
  5. Child-related display
  6. Space for gross motor play
  7. Gross motor equipment

Personal Care Routines

  1. Meals/snacks
  2. Toileting/diapering
  3. Health practices
  4. Safety practices

Language and Literacy

  1. Helping children expand vocabulary
  2. Encouraging children to use language
  3. Staff use of books with children
  4. Encouraging children’s use of books
  5. Becoming familiar with print

Learning Activities

  1. Fine motor
  2. Art
  3. Music and movement
  4. Blocks
  5. Dramatic play
  6. Nature/science
  7. Math materials and activities
  8. Math in daily events
  9. Understanding written numbers
  10. Promoting acceptance of diversity
  11. Appropriate use of technology

Interaction

  1. Supervision of gross motor
  2. Individualized teaching and learning
  3. Staff-child interaction
  4. Peer interaction
  5. Discipline

Program Structure

  1. Transitions and waiting times
  2. Free play
  3. Whole-group activities for play and learning