On August 6, 13, and 20, 2022, twenty-nine child care providers throughout Saipan and Tinian attended a training series on The Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale, Third Edition (ECERS-3), conducted by Evergreen Learning Coach Erlaine DLG. Evangelista at Kagman Community Center, and remotely on August 20th. Each training session lasted around three to four hours each.
ECERS-3 is a version from the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) that assesses early childhood program quality in child care centers that take care of children in the preschool age range of 3 through 5 years old (before Kindergarten). Under Reach Higher, CNMI, the CNMI’s version of the Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) ECERS-3, along with its other versions (ITERS-3, SACERS-U) specific to children’s age level, are implemented within the standards. Through these set of rating scales (ITERS-3, ECERS-3, SACERS-U), assessors can determine an early child care’s quality rating in relation to health and safety practices, interactions, schedules, routines, room set up, accessible age-appropriate materials, etc. The scale is used all over the world, and not just the United States. In addition, it is used across different ages, poverty levels, and cultures. The ERS has been proven to serve its exact purpose in the specific study and provides consistent or dependable results.
During the training, child care providers learned how to read and interpret the ECERS-3 rating scale, along with scores, and complete their own self-assessment and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP). The QIP document is a tool used that helps providers set in place specific tasks to accomplish goals related to improving their quality in caring for children. ECERS-3 self-assessment and the Quality Improvement Plan documents are all accounted for under Star 1 of Reach Higher, CNMI.
For more information on Reach Higher, CNMI (QRIS), please visit http://www.cnmicclp.gov.mp.
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