Compliance Indicator

The program shall complete an environment rating scale to measure program quality for the appropriate age group and setting and shall achieve a rating of “Good,” defined as scoring at least an average of 5.0 on each subscale of the environment rating scale.

Regulations/Reference

CCD Program Instrument: III. Program Quality CCD 12 Welfare & Institutions Code: 10208, 10209, 10250, 10251 Title 5: 18281

Monitoring Review Evidence

• Completed Environment Rating Scale & Summary Report for Classroom

• Environment Rating Scale Summary of Findings

Overview

Role of Environment Rating Scale

Designed to measure program quality in a family child care home.

All items measure the environment, along with the programs & educators/providers ability to support children’s basic needs. Basic needs of children include:

• Protection of their health & safety

• Supporting, guiding & building positive relationships

• Providing appropriate learning opportunities

Environment Rating Scales

The Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale, Revised Edition (FCCERS-R) is completed annually.

FCCERS is designed to assess family child care programs conducted in a provider’s home. Home providers serve a mixed age group. The total scale consists of 38 items.

NOTE: A complete ERS assessment includes material from both the booklet & supplemental notes. The notes do not change any of the requirements in the books, however they add additional information to help in accurate scoring, without them your scoring will be off.

The Environmental Rating Scale Institute (ERSI) has issued updated guidance regarding the use of the ERS tools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What this might look like in a program:

Include ERS assessment dates within the Monthly Planner to ensure all provider homes are assessed annually.

ERS Structure

Overarching Structure

Subscales are broad categories of environmental quality.

Items are individual areas to be evaluated within each subscale

Indicators are a series of statements that require a yes (true) or no (not true) answer. Indicators are arranged in a progression of quality from 1 being inadequate to 7 being excellent

Notes for Clarification are provided following each item to give examples, definitions & additional information to improve accuracy in scoring and to further explain the intent of specific items and indicators. Notes for Clarification are periodically updated, which can be found on the ERSI website at ersi.info

Scoring the Indicators

When scoring, each section builds onto the next. Start with 1 & work their way up the scale. One of the most common errors when classrooms prepare for the ERS is to jump to 5 or 6. If 1, 2 or 3 are not met, then the score stops. 

When a Title 22 licensing requirement is more stringent than ERS best practice, licensing regulation trumps ERS criteria.

SCORING SNAPSHOT:

Score Sheet

Complete the ENTIRE Scale. Once complete, access the Score Sheet at the end of ERS book (ok to copy). Use fresh score sheet for each family child care home.

Steps to average each Subscale:

1. Transfer final score of each indicator & item over to the score sheet

2. Add the items scored together

3. Divide total score by number of items. The outcome is the final average subscale score

NOTES:

• NOT realistic to score 7 on all items due to various variables

• Individual indicators are far less important than the average total score for any home

• Average total score that is related to positive child development, but not a single indicator by itself

Program Improvement

From Paper to Progress: Home Improvement

Each family child care home must complete the entire ERS

Score sheet or summary report will help refine home practices & environments so that scores will rise

From Paper to Progress: Program Improvement

Average the ERS subscale scores for entire family child care home education network

Completing Summary of Findings/Plan of Action

IDENTIFY KEY FINDINGS or TRENDS

• Select the items that indicate a need for improvement in each subscale with an average score below 5

• For those contractors with only subscale averages of 5 or higher, select one item that indicates a need for improvement from each of the two lowest scoring subscales

ACTION STEPS

• Develop & write attainable Action Steps to improve each key finding

• Include multiple action steps, such as modifications and/or changes to instructional materials, training, schedules, space, supervision

EXPECTED COMPLETION & PERSONS RESPONSIBLE

• Enter date when Action Steps will be completed

• Identify person(s) who will be responsible for each Action Step

FOLLOW-UP & REFLECTIONS

• Initially left blank

• Periodically review status of all Action Steps, completion dates, persons responsible & follow-up

• Record modifications or changes needed to complete the Action Steps & expected completion dates

• Reflect on results & record progress or changes made

What to Expect

Note that sample What to Expect handouts were developed to support educators/providers in knowing what to expect as it relates to an in-person ERS assessment. With everything, it’s always better to know before hand.

Preparation

• Assessor will schedule a time/date for the assessment

• Review and set-up your environment using the FCCERS tool

• Pay close attention to the terms & notes for clarification

• Each item in the FCCERS tool will be scored. When scoring, remember that each section builds onto the next. The assessor will start with 1 & work their way up the scale. One of the most common errors when people prepare for the FCCERS is to jump to 5 or 6. If 1, 2 or 3 are not met, then the score stops

• It is not realistic to score 7 across all items

• The goal is to have a minimum score of 5 within each subscale. To determine the subscale average, add the subscale items together & divide the total by the number of items scored

Assessment Day

• An assessor will be observing the environment for 3 to 3 ½ hours, which must include drop-off & meal time

• Assessment is a snapshot of what a typical day looks like in the home

• During the observation, the assessor is NOT allowed to interact with the educator/provider or children

• Provider will not receive the results on the actual assessment day

After Assessment

• The Assessor will schedule a time to review the ERS results with you

• Action steps will be developed by the educator/provider in collaboration with support staff for any subscales scored below a Good (5) rating. The plan will be recorded on the Summary of Findings form

• Follow-up & reflection will be conducted quarterly

After reviewing the video lesson & sketch pad notes, it’s time to check for understanding by completing a Knowledge Check. Note that Individual Knowledge Checks will conclude with a Certificate.

Individual Knowledge Check (ProProfs) >

Group Knowledge Check (Kahoot) >