Frequently Asked Questions
Products
Can I make copies of the scales?
How do I buy the books/videos?
Is there software for processing scores?
Is there a checklist of suggested classroom materials?
When will you be publishing a revised edition of the FCCERS?
When will you be publishing a revised edition of the SACERS?
When will you be publishing Spanish translations of the Rating Scales?
When will you be publishing a video for the SACERS?
What is the difference between the ECERS-R and ECERS-E?
Q. Can I make copies of the scales?
A. Since the scales are published, copyrighted works, they may not be copied without written permission from the authors and Teacher’s College Press, the publishers. If you would like permission to reproduce any materials from the scales, for example, to show the format to a class, please complete the form required for this purpose on the Teachers College Press website, and use link “ERS (Environment Rating Scales) Permission Request” to describe exactly the material and how you plan to use it to receive permission. Reproduction of any part of the scale would require appropriate citation.
Q. How do I buy the books/videos?
A. Please see the order info page for links to the publisher and a few vendors. We do not sell the books and videos ourselves but we do want to know if you are having difficulty getting these from our listed sources.
Q. Is there software for processing scores?
A. The ERS Data System, developed by Branagh Group, is the only licensed commercially distributed software package for the scales. It is designed to run on a Tablet PC for in classroom use, or on a desktop computer if entering scores from a paper score sheet. A Tablet PC is essentially a lightweight notebook computer with handwriting recognition software.
Assessors carry the Tablet PC into the field and complete the scoring by tapping on the screen of the Tablet PC. The Tablet PC version displays items just as seen in the print version. A special pen allows observers to write notes on the screen as they complete the scale. These notes are automatically translated into print text and can be incorporated into the summary reports.
In addition to containing the complete text of the instruments, it also incorporates up-to-date “Notes for Clarification” and worksheets for each of the scales; items (including, for example, calculators for substantial portion of the day for the ECERS-R). The software produces classroom-level reports that include the appropriate scoring rationales from notes taken in the field.
There are two versions of the software available. One is geared toward Technical Assistance efforts and places an emphasis on producing Quality Improvement Plans based on the rating scale assessments. The other is geared toward Quality Rating Systems and features electronic review by the assessors’ supervisor/anchor. In addition, assessors may also use the software’s Interrater Reliability module to compare scores, reach consensus, and determine each assessor’s reliability. Both systems create an aggregate database for analysis both at the facility and program level with reports generated using a web-based reporting system designed for program administrators.
For more information, please visit: http://www.ersdata.com.
Q. Is there a checklist of suggested classroom materials?
A. The authors and their associates have not created or approved any checklist of materials. Also please note that there are several early childhood supply companies that list materials that are “linked” to the rating scales; however, these companies create their catalogs without our input, so the materials they link to the various items in the scales may not fit at all. The best approach for providing an enriched environment in accordance with the scales is to read the various items on the scales very carefully, especially those that have categories of items listed in the Notes for Clarification. It is also important to check the additional notes for the scales (which we update regularly). These can be found on this website by clicking on the scales. Categories of particular interest include those listed in many of the items under the Activities subscale as well as the Book and Pictures item. Two additional resource books that provide comprehensive supplemental information about materials are: “All About the ECERS-R” and “All About the ITERS-R,” both written by members of the ESRI staff and their associates, and published by Kaplan Early Learning. See ___________ for further information on the All About books.
Q. When will you be publishing a revised edition of the FCCERS?
A. The new Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale has been published and is now available in both English and Spanish.
Q. When will you be publishing a revised edition of the SACERS?
A. There is no timeline for revising the SACERS at this time, but it will be started after the new All About the FCCERS-R is completed. At present, in order to update the SACERS, the indicators must be numbered by the scale user and the additional notes must be pasted into the SACERS. The notes are available on this website.
Q. When will you be publishing Spanish translations of the Rating Scales?
A. Current expected publication dates for the ITERS-3, ECERS-3, and FCCERS-3 are 3/20/2020, 3/6/2020, and 4/3/2020, respectively.
Q. When will you be publishing a video for the SACERS?
There are no immediate plans. If a SACERS video were to be made, it would likely come after a revised edition of the SACERS, and there is no timeline for that project as yet.
Q. What is the difference between the ECERS-R and ECERS-E?
A. The ECERS-R is a comprehensive or global process quality assessment covering the physical, interpersonal, and learning environment in a preschool-k classroom. The ECERS-E is a supplemental instrument that expands several curricular items from the ECERS-R into subscales to give more information about how literacy, numeracy, science and diversity are taught. The ECERS-E is not meant to replace the ECERS-R but rather to provide a closer look at these four important curricular areas. The ECERS-E was developed in England for use with the ECERS-R in a larger scale research project on school readiness.
Both instruments use the same 7 point Likert scale format with indicators to look for at 4 levels of quality: inadequate (1), minimal (3), good (5), and excellent (7).
The ECERS-E is now available from Teachers College Press in a new version for the U.S and countries other than the UK.
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