Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) are reliable and valid scales designed to assess process quality in an early childhood or school age care group. Process quality is assessed primarily through observation and has been found to be more predictive of child outcomes than structural indicators such as staff to child ratio, group size, cost of care, and even type of care, for example child care center or family child care home.
The School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS) is offered through the Center for Assessment and Screening Excellence.