North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project

Assessment brochure

Scheduling brochure

Important resources for all assessments

Here are links to resources for all rating scales.

Describes the steps involved in particpating in assessments completed by NCRLAP.
About the assessment process (video)
This form should be completed by program staff and/or home providers prior to the start of their assessment window. One form should be used for each classroom that includes more than one child.
Classroom information form
Describes many of the health and sanitation practices considered during the assessment process.
Handwashing and other basic health considerations (video)
Revised: October 2011 This is a summary of scoring criteria used by NCRLAP assessors during Environment Rating Scale assessments for items that relate to gross motor space and equipment. These standards apply to all gross motor equipment and materials.
Requirements for Gross Motor Space and Equipment
Addresses common questions and scoring issues related to gross motor spaces and play that occur during the assessments completed by NCRLAP.
Safe space for gross motor play (video)
A copy of this form should be completed by program staff or the home provider for each classroom prior to the start of their assessment window.
Teacher information form
Meal Guidelines – Ages 1-12Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Updated 9/25/00www.nal.usda.gov/childcare/Cacfp/index.html
USDA Meal Guidelines for Children 1 to 12 years
We provide weekly webinars where you can learn about the Environment Rating Scales and other topics.
Webinar trainings

Brochure with information about the assessment process
A Quick Reference Guide 2013
About the assessment process in NC (uncaptioned video)
About the assessment process in NC (uncaptioned video)
This checklist is designed toassist child care programswith the assessment processin conjunction with otherresources provided by DCDEEand NCRLAP. Programscan use this as a guidewhile preparing for theassessment process, thoughit is not required to use it.
Assessment process checklist
This document provides a list of hints that child care programs can do to help the assessment process go smoothly.
Assessment Process: Reminders for day of assessment
Links to the website for the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
Caring for Our Children, 2nd edition
(2010 version) This chart summarizes safe and healthy outdoor play conditions. It is a guide to use when determining if weather conditions allow for outdoor play.
Child Care Weather Watch Chart
Link to the DCD website, where you can learn about the NC Star Rated License system.
General information regarding the NC Star Rated License system
Link to CPSC website. Provides the CPSC guidelines referenced by rated license assessors.
Handbook for Public Playground Safety
Describes many of the health and sanitation practices considered during the assessment process.
Handwashing and basic health considerations for the assessment process (uncaptioned video)
Addresses common questions and scoring issues related to gross motor spaces and play that occur during the North Carolina Rated License Assessments.
Safe space for gross motor play (uncaptioned video)
This webcast is Stay and Play Outside All Day, Part 1 which is an introduction to enhancing the outdoor learning environment. After this webcast, you may also want to view part 2 that discusses considerations for using natural learning materials as well as parts 3 and 4 that show examples of these materials.
Stay and play outside all day, part 1
This webcast is about Stay and Play Outside All Day, Part 2 which continues the conversation about enhancing the outdoor play environment for children. It promotes teachers scheduling much time for outdoor play while providing children with a variety of gross motor and other learning experiences.
Stay and play outside all day, part 2
This presentation provides examples of outdoor learning areas as well as examples of teacher-made natural learning materials. More examples are provided in Stay and Play Outside All Day, part 4.
Stay and play outside all day, part 3
This webcast provides examples of teacher-made natural learning materials. These ideas come from various programs in North Carolina who wish to expose children to nature and help children develop a sense of wonder and appreciation for the out-of-doors.
Stay and play outside all day, part 4
Use this video supplement to learn more about common questions and scoring issues related to gross motor spaces and play that occur during the NC rated license assessments.
Supplement for A Safe Space for Gross Motor Play (8-2012)
Use this video supplement to learn more about the process of having an assessment completed by the NC Rated License Assessment Project.
Supplement for About the Assessment Process (8-2012)
Use this video supplement to learn more about how providers can ensure that health and sanitation practices are carried out appropriately throughout the day.
Supplement for Handwashing and Basic Health Considerations (8-2012)
This supplement focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in child care settings.
Supplement for Language for Learning (8-2012)
This webcast addresses common questions from child care providers about when it is appropriate to take children outside.
Webcast: Outdoor Play Weather Permitting: Common questions
This webcast discusses the requirements on the Environment Rating Scales regarding outdoor play weather permitting.
Webcast: Outdoor Play Weather Permitting: What are the requirements?
View all resources

Below are the most important resources for each rating scale.

For classrooms serving children 31 months to 5 years: ECERS-R

These are the current NC Additional Notes for the ECERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
NC Additional Notes ECERS-R
This document provides updated information for child care program staff regarding the NC Pre-K ECERS-R assessment process for 2012-2013 school year.
2012-2013 Guide to the North Carolina Pre-K ECERS-R Assessment Process
This webcasts provides information related to the requirements of the ECERS-R, Item 22 Blocks, Indicator 5.1 and shows examples of block areas and how these relate to the indicator's requirements.
ECERS-R Item 22 Blocks, Indicator 5.1
This report shows statewide and county FCCERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 9/1/2009 to 8/31/2011.
ECERS-R statewide and county score summary (4-9-2012)
Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving preschoolers.
Language for learning: Preschoolers (video)
This document provides a summary of the lowest scoring items and indicators for the ECERS-R, as used for the assessment portion of the NC Star Rated License.
Summary of Lowest Scoring Items and Indicators for the ECERS-R
This webcast defines the basic requirements of a cozy area for the ECERS-R considered for NCRLAP assessments and will also provide examples of areas that meet this definition and also examples that do not. It illustrates important considerations in determining the adequacy of a cozy area by answering common questions on this topic.
The ECERS-R cozy area
Use this worksheet while reading the appropriate Environment Rating Scale to document the materials and furnishings in your classroom while considering the items and indicators of the activity subscale.
Thinking More about Learning Materials-ECERS-R

For classrooms serving children birth through 30 months: ITERS-R

These are the current NC Additional Notes for the ITERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
NC Additional Notes: ITERS-R
This webcast explains the definition of books in poor repair as it applies to the ITERS-R and ECERS-R as well as provides examples of common repair issues and other important considerations.
Books in poor repair
This report shows statewide and county ITERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 9/1/2009 to 8/31/2011.
ITERS-R statewide and county score summary (4-9-2012)
Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving infant and toddlers.
Language for learning: Infants and Toddlers (video)
This document provides a summary of the lowest scoring items and indicators for the ITERS-R, as used for the assessment portion of the NC Star Rated License.
Summary of Lowest Scoring Items and Indicators for the ITERS-R
Use this worksheet while reading the appropriate Environment Rating Scale to document the materials and furnishings in your classroom while considering the items and indicators of the activity subscale.
Thinking More about Learning Materials-ITERS-R
USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers. Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Updated 9/25/00. www.nal.usda.gov/childcare/Cacfp/index_html
USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
Illustrates ways providers can ensure that infants, particularly non-mobile infants, have a variety of play and learning experiences with appropriate materials and furnishings throughout the course of the caregiving day.
Using materials with non-mobile infants (video)

For classrooms serving children 5 to 12 years: SACERS

These are the current NC Additional Notes for the SACERS used by NCRLAP assessors.
NC Additional Notes: SACERS
Focuses on how language supports childrens cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving schoolagers.
Language for learning: Schoolagers (video)
This report shows statewide and county SACERS scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 9/1/2009 to 8/31/2011.
SACERS statewide and county score summary (4-9-2012)
This document provides a summary of the lowest scoring items and indicators for the SACERS, as used for the assessment portion of the NC Star Rated License.
Summary of Lowest Scoring Items and Indicators for the SACERS
Use this worksheet while reading the appropriate Environment Rating Scale to document the materials and furnishings in your classroom while considering the items and indicators of the activity subscale.
Thinking More about Learning Materials-SACERS

For family child care homes serving children birth - 12 years: FCCERS-R

These are the current NC Additional Notes for the FCCERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
NC Additional Notes: FCCERS‐R
This webcast explains the definition of books in poor repair as it applies to the ITERS-R and ECERS-R as well as provides examples of common repair issues and other important considerations.
Books in poor repair
This report shows statewide and county FCCERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 9/1/2009 to 8/31/2011.
FCCERS-R statewide and county score summary (4-9-2012)
Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving infant and toddlers.
Language for learning: Infants and Toddlers (video)
Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving preschoolers.
Language for learning: Preschoolers (video)
Focuses on how language supports childrens cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving schoolagers.
Language for learning: Schoolagers (video)
This document provides a summary of the lowest scoring items and indicators for the FCCERS-R, as used for the assessment portion of the NC Star Rated License.
Summary of Lowest Scoring Items and Indicators for the FCCERS-R
Use this worksheet while reading the appropriate Environment Rating Scale to document the materials and furnishings in your family childcare home while considering the items and indicators of the activity subscale.
Thinking More about Learning Materials-FCCERS-R
USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers. Source: Child and Adult Care Food Program, USDA Food and Nutrition Service Updated 9/25/00. www.nal.usda.gov/childcare/Cacfp/index_html
USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers
Illustrates ways providers can ensure that infants, particularly non-mobile infants, have a variety of play and learning experiences with appropriate materials and furnishings throughout the course of the caregiving day.
Using materials with non-mobile infants (video)