Can I tour the Cyert Center before my child is enrolled?
Because of the high number of requests we receive from parents wishing to tour the Center, we offer an Open House each February for families on the waiting list.
Are part-time spots available?
Each year, a limited number of full-day, consistent two and three day shared spaces are available. In other words, if your child has an arrangement to come on Mondays and Wednesdays, there must be another child in the same age group who comes on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Part-time children can only come on the days specified in their contract. There are no half day or partial day arrangements.
What is the cost of tuition?
Tuition rates for the following enrollment year are determined in January. Please e-mail us to inquire about current tuition rates.
Do you accept children of parents that are not affiliated with Carnegie Mellon University?
The Cyert Center is a department of the University and gives priority on our wait list to full-time, benefits-eligible Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff. See our enrollment page for more details.
Does the Cyert Center provide food for enrolled children?
Our in-house kitchen provides a morning snack, lunch, and an afternoon snack for children old enough to eat table food. Parents are asked to provide bottles and other appropriate food for infants. Once a child is old enough to eat table food, the educators and parents work together to introduce these new foods. An infant menu and toddler/preschool menu is distributed to parents at the beginning of each week. Parents often join their children for lunch.
Can I visit my enrolled child during program hours?
Yes! Parents are invited to sign up to eat lunch with their child's class, visit as often as needed to breast feed their infant, and become involved in many class activities and experiences, such as our Parent-Child Open Studio Explorations. Parents are seen as partners in their child's experience at the center and are always welcome.
When does the Cyert Center close?
We follow Carnegie Mellon University's calendar and are closed when the University is closed. We also provide one week of in-service for our educators each August to prepare for the upcoming program year and 1/2 day professional development days throughout the year. The list of these days is prepared in February and given to families along with their yearly contracts. Tuition is not reduced during these days.
What is your discipline policy?
The Cyert Center adheres to the NAEYC Guidelines for Developmentally Appropriate Practice and Guidelines to Accreditation as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare standards. The Cyert Center recommends behavior management practices that are proactive and preventative as a first measure. An enriched environment, on-going observation of individual children, as well as a style of close supervision and interaction support this recommendation.
What is your policy for sick children?
We do not have the ability to care for children who are sick. We suggest the Pittsburgh Children's Center Get Well Room. The Get Well Room provides care for children with mild illnesses that keep them home from school or daycare. Ages 6 months to 12 years; open 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, September through May. All Carnegie Mellon employees can receive a discounted rate of $44.50/day for infants/toddlers or $30.50/day for children 3 to 12 years of age. Pre-registration is required.
What is the ratio of children to educators?
We follow NAEYC's guidelines for the number of educators per child. There are approximately 20 children in each classroom. The Infant Wing has seven educators, the Young Toddler Room has five, and the Older Toddler Room has four. The Preschool 1, Preschool 2, and PreK/Kindergarten classrooms each have three educators.
I am an educator. Can I have a personal tour of your center?
Half-day tours and observations (9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) are available each month on a limited basis for small groups. The cost is $50 per person. See our Professional Development page for more information.
