The ERS Data System provides a suite of software tools that facilitate data gathering, administration, analysis, and reporting of child care assessments based on the recognized gold standard, collectively known as the Environment Rating Scales.

Written by Thelma Harms, Richard Clifford and Debby Cryer and published by Teachers College Press, these scales are the most widely used instruments for assessing quality in child care settings in the US.

The Environment Rating Scales are comprised of four distinct environment and age-appropriate instruments: ECERS-R © (Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale--Revised Edition), ITERS-R © (Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale--Revised Edition), FCCERS-R © (Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale--Revised Edition), and SACERS © (School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale).

The ERS Data System provides field assessors with all the tools they need to efficiently and accurately perform Environment Rating Scale assessments using a cutting-edge portable computer, known as a Tablet PC. Once an assessment is complete, the software makes producing an individual classroom summary report a snap!

Data collected from individual assessments are easily uploaded to the secure web-based ERS Data Warehouse. In aggregate, this data can be used to monitor the overall efficacy of a child care quality improvement effort. It can also be used to monitor the accuracy and consistency of the assessors (inter-rater reliability), helping inform supervisors in which areas additional training may be needed.