A fourth instrument used to observe in preschool
classrooms is the 43 item Early Childhood Environmental
Rating Scale-Revised (ECERS-R) which released in 1998
(Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute,
2014). However, Harms and Clifford designed the first
ECERS in 1980. The ECERS was “designed to assess
group programs for preschool-kindergarten aged
children” (Frank Porter Graham Child Development
Institute, 2014). The ECERS revised edition “contains
inclusive and culturally sensitive indicators” and new
items have been added to include classroom interactions
(Environment Rating Scales Institute, 2014). In general,
rating scales developed on early childhood settings at any
level evaluate the process quality in the setting or the
experiences children have in the setting through
interactions (Phillipsen, Burchinal, Howes, & Cryer,
1997). Researchers have found the best way to assess
process quality is through observation, therefore
environmental rating scales were developed. This
instrument is currently being used in major studies around
the United Stated, including Federal Research projects
with Head Start and State research projects (Clifford,
Reszka, & Rossbach, 2010).