The Cyert Center for Early Education is a full-day early education program at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), with two locations in the Oakland section of Pittsburgh, for children ranging in age from 12 weeks through kindergarten.

The Cyert Center first opened in 1971 and was founded by the CMU “Women’s Liberation Organization,” a group of women faculty seeking high quality, innovative early educational experiences for their children. Throughout its 46-year history, the program has maintained a deep commitment to offering children the highest quality of care and education. The Cyert Center recognizes the potential of each child, the vital contributions parents make to the center community, and the importance of professional development for educators and staff.

For more than 25 years, The Cyert Center has engaged in a serious study of the Reggio Emilia Approach. The center is a social constructivist program, which utilizes a developmentally appropriate, materials-rich negotiated curriculum that embraces children’s right to learn and express their ideas, questions, and theories in a myriad of ways. The program is licensed by the Department of Human Services and the PA Department of Private Academic Schools, and accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children.