Recent news

A new Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (ITERS-3) and a new Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (ECERS-3) have been released. There are no immediate plans for child care programs completing North Carolina's Environment Rating Scale assessment process to transition to either of these new editions. At this time, the Division of Child Development and Early Education and the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project will continue to use the ITERS-R and ECERS-R.

Important resources for all assessments
Here are links to resources for all rating scales.
  1. Describes the steps involved in participating in assessments completed by NCRLAP. Information in this resource is appropriate to be used with each Environment Rating Scale, including the SACERS-U.
    About the assessment process (video)   Click for more information about this media
  2. 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 (8-21-18)   Click for more information about this document
  3. Describes many of the health and sanitation practices considered during the assessment process. Information in this resource is appropriate to be used with each Environment Rating Scale, including the SACERS-U.
    Handwashing and other basic health considerations (video)   Click for more information about this media
  4. Revised: March 2019 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   Click for more information about this document
  5. 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)   Click for more information about this media
  6. USDA Meal Pattern Guidelines for Children 1-12 years of age. These updated guidelines are required by October 1, 2017. Source. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks
    USDA Meal Guidelines for Children 1 to 12 years   Click for more information about this document
  7. We provide weekly webinars where you can learn about the Environment Rating Scales and other topics.
    Webinar trainings   Click for more information about this document
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Below are the most important resources for each rating scale.
For classrooms serving children 31 months to 5 years: ECERS-R
image of ECERS-R
  1. These are the current NC Additional Notes for the ECERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
    NC Additional Notes ECERS-R   document icon
  2. This report shows statewide and county ECERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 6/19/2015 to 6/19/2017.
    ECERS-R Statewide and county scores   document icon
  3. This webcast defines the basic requirements of a cozy area for the ECERS-R rating scale and provides examples of areas that meet this definition and examples of areas that do not. It illustrates important considerations in determining the adequacy of a cozy area by answering common questions on this topic. (4/17/2013)
    ECERS-R The cozy area (webcast, uses Adobe flash)   document icon
  4. This document briefly summarizes some of the handwashing and some health requirements for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and FCCERS-R.
    Health Reminders for the ITERS-R ECERS-R and FCCERS-R   document icon
  5. Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving preschoolers.
    Language for learning: Preschoolers (video)   video icon
  6. This document provides an overview of considerations, questions, and answers regarding ECERS-R assessments for public school preschool programs.
    Public school ECERS information sheet   document icon
  7. This document provides information about the substantial portion of the day requirement in the ECERS-R. It includes information about the definition of the term, how assessors determine the times and make calculations, FAQs, materials indoors and outdoors, and tips.
    Substantial portion of the day: Key points for NC's assessment process   document icon
  8. 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   document icon
  9. 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 activities sub-scale.
    Thinking More about Learning Materials-ECERS-R   document icon
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For classrooms serving children birth through 30 months: ITERS-R
image of ITERS-R
  1. These are the current NC Additional Notes for the ITERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
    NC Additional Notes: ITERS-R   document icon
  2. This webcast explains the definition of books in poor repair as it applies to the ITERS-R and FCCERS-R as well as provides examples of common repair issues and other important considerations.
    Books in poor repair   document icon
  3. This document briefly summarizes some of the handwashing and some health requirements for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and FCCERS-R.
    Health Reminders for the ITERS-R ECERS-R and FCCERS-R   document icon
  4. This report shows statewide and county ITERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 6/19/2015 to 6/19/2017.
    ITERS-R Statewide and county scores   document icon
  5. 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)   video icon
  6. Recent findings from the North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) provide compelling evidence for the importance of low ratios and group sizes for infants and toddlers in center-based care. For more information or questions, please contact Dr. Deborah Cassidy (djcassidy@uncg.edu)
    NCRLAP research brief: Ratios and group sizes are linked to ITERS-R scores   document icon
  7. 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   document icon
  8. 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 activities sub-scale.
    Thinking More about Learning Materials-ITERS-R   document icon
  9. USDA Meal Pattern Guidelines for Infants less than 12 months old. These updated guidelines are required by October 1, 2017. Source. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks
    USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants   document icon
  10. 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)   video icon
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For classrooms serving children 5 to 12 years: SACERS-Updated
image of SACERS-U
  1. These are the current NC Additional Notes for the SACERS-U used by NCRLAP assessors.
    NC Additional Notes SACERS-U   document icon
  2. This document briefly summarizes some of the handwashing and health considerations for the SACERS-U.
    Health Reminders for the SACERS-U   document icon
  3. Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving schoolagers. Information in this resource is appropriate to be used with each Environment Rating Scale, including the SACERS-U.
    Language for learning: Schoolagers (video)   video icon
  4. Provides examples of some of the required interactions and facilitation of learning for a few items on the Activities sub-scale of the SACERS-U. It illustrates ideas for implementing best practices while staff communicate and interact with school-age children.
    SACERS-U Facilitating activities   document icon
  5. This report shows statewide and county SACERS-U scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 6/19/2015 to 6/19/2017.
    SACERS-U Statewide and county scores   document icon
  6. This resource provides examples of the types of language and questioning techniques that specifically meet the expectations for item 29, Staff-child communication, indicator 5.4. It also illustrates best practices for language when staff ask children probing questions that encourage children to give more involved responses.
    SACERS-U: Language Activity: Understanding the requirement for item 29   document icon
  7. This document provides a summary of the lowest scoring items and indicators for the SACERS-U, as used for the assessment portion of the NC Star Rated License.
    Summary of Lowest Scoring Items and Indicators for the SACERS-U   document icon
  8. 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 activities sub-scale.
    Thinking More about Learning Materials-SACERS-U   document icon
More
For family child care homes serving children birth - 12 years: FCCERS-R
image of FCCERS
  1. These are the current NC Additional Notes for the FCCERS-R used by NCRLAP assessors.
    NC Additional Notes: FCCERS-R   document icon
  2. This webcast explains the definition of books in poor repair as it applies to the ITERS-R and FCCERS-R as well as provides examples of common repair issues and other important considerations.
    Books in poor repair   document icon
  3. This document provides an overview of considerations, questions from FCCH providers, and answers regarding NC's FCCERS-R assessment process.
    FCCERS-R Assessment Process Information   document icon
  4. This report shows statewide and county FCCERS-R scores for NC Star Rated License assessments during 6/19/2015 to 6/19/2017.
    FCCERS-R Statewide and county scores   document icon
  5. This document briefly summarizes some of the handwashing and some health requirements for the ITERS-R, ECERS-R, and FCCERS-R.
    Health Reminders for the ITERS-R ECERS-R and FCCERS-R   document icon
  6. 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)   video icon
  7. Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving preschoolers.
    Language for learning: Preschoolers (video)   video icon
  8. Focuses on how language supports children's cognitive and social/emotional development in programs serving schoolagers. Information in this resource is appropriate to be used with each Environment Rating Scale, including the SACERS-U.
    Language for learning: Schoolagers (video)   video icon
  9. 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   document icon
  10. 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 activities sub-scale.
    Thinking More about Learning Materials-FCCERS-R   document icon
  11. USDA Meal Pattern Guidelines for Infants less than 12 months old. These updated guidelines are required by October 1, 2017. Source. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/meals-and-snacks
    USDA Meal Guidelines for Infants   document icon
  12. 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)   video icon
More