Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD) Scales
The OMEP ESD Rating Scale
Focus: Teaching & Learning (Birth to 8)The OMEP ESD Rating Scale in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) is a tool for building a shared understanding of a culture of sustainability for children and adults in ECEC settings.
The scale gives staff and management the opportunity to identify areas where efforts are needed for sustainability. It functions as an instrument for skills development, evaluation and quality improvement of education and teaching for sustainable development.
Advantages of using this tool:
Evolution of the Scale: Originally created between 2011 and 2016 across Chile, Italy, England, Kenya, Korea, Sweden, and the USA. A revised edition with Guidelines and Rubrics followed in 2019. In 2026, the third edition was published based on global user reports.
Resources & Downloads
Well suited for self-assessment, internal evaluation, and academic research.
National OMEP committees are welcome to translate the scale to more languages in collaboration with the OMEP ESD Leadership group.
The OMEP ESD Leadership Scale
Focus: Whole Setting Approach (WSA)Developed in 2026, this second scale supports principals and leaders in ECEC through transformative and transactional change towards sustainability, focusing on a Whole Setting Approach (WSA).
This scale perfectly complements the Rating Scale. While the Rating Scale focuses on direct teaching and learning with children, the Leadership Scale involves the entire ECEC setting and leadership roles at all levels.
Becoming "Planet Guardians"
A WSA reaches beyond the classroom to engage parents, families, neighbors, businesses, and civic leaders. It may start small with recycling or planting, but evolves into conscious, conscientious, and thoughtful development into impactful actions.
Shared Vision: Collaboratively developing a common vision promotes a setting-wide commitment, deepens global sustainability understanding, and provides guidance for implementing daily ongoing changes.
Leadership Resources
Tools designed for management, principals, and systemic organizational transformation.
National OMEP committees are welcome to translate the scale to more languages in collaboration with the OMEP ESD Leadership group.
The OMEP ESD Leadership Project 2026 - 2027
The OMEP World Assembly in Poznan in July 2026
decided to launch a pilot project on leadership in ESD. We ask all National Committees (NC) to consider signing up.