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Cyert Center for Early Childhood Education

The Cyert Center for Early Education is a full-day early care and education program serving the University. Children range from 3 months to kindergarten. The program was one of the first 100 programs in the US to receive national accreditation. Educators throughout the Center participate in National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers, and the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance. The program is licensed by the Department of Public Welfare and the PA Department of Private Academic Schools.

Sliding Scale Benefit

The Sliding Scale alters the tuition of the Cyert Center based on the income of the family.  It sets the rate of the Cyert Center at 10% of the gross family income, up to a maximum family benefit of $5,000.  

  • This benefit is available to full-time, benefits-eligible Carnegie Mellon faculty and staff families.
  • If more than one child is enrolled in the program, the $5,000 benefit will be divided between the children.
  • The benefit is available for no more than two children per family.
  • Families enrolled up until the 2003-04 program year are grandfathered under an altered program.
  • Sliding scale benefits offset what you can contribute to the Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.  (See Child Care Benefits - Tax Implications (.pdf).)

Applying for the Sliding Scale Benefit

  1. Read the appropriate Cyert Center Benefits Instruction Letter: 
    For Families Enrolling in 2004 to Present (.pdf)     or For Grandfathered Families (.pdf)
  2. Complete the 2009-2010 Cyert Center Sliding Scale Application (.pdf)  form. 
    (Sliding Scale Application for 2008-09 School Year (.pdf))

  3. Return the application directly to Human Resources by June 1. 
    (Applications received after June 1 will be processed.  However, benefits will not begin until September 1 or the first of the month following the receipt of the application, whichever comes later.) 

Sliding Scale Benefit for Families Enrolled in 2003-04 Program Year

Full-time benefits-eligible faculty and staff with a child enrolled in the Cyert Center up until the 2003-04 program year are grandfathered under the following grandfathered sliding scale benefit program.   Please note that Cyert Center sliding scale benefits in excess of $5,000 are considered imputed income and are subject to taxation. (See Child Care Benefits - Tax Implications (.pdf).)

  • For Children Enrolled in 2003-04 or earlier - The tuition for children who were enrolled in the 2003-04 program year will continue to be equal to 10% of the gross family income (or employee's salary, whichever is greater), not to exceed the full tuition rate. There will be no limit to the sliding scale benefit that can be used for children enrolled in the 2003-04 program year.

  • For Children of Grandfathered Families Who Enter(ed) the Program in 2004-05 or Later - If a grandfathered family enrolls additional children in the Center, the tuition for the new child(ren) will be equal to 10% of the gross family income (or employee's salary, whichever is greater), up to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per new child. Up to two additional children will be eligible for this benefit (The third new child and beyond who are enrolled will be eligible for the $5,000 per family sliding scale maximum.)