The Rising Start Curriculum: Academics, Life Skills & Real-World Learning

Each of our TRS Customized Studies Curricula is composed of various courses, workshops, labs, and topics specially designed to meet the academic and/or life readiness needs of our students and young adults. The TRS team will work with each parent, student, and young adult to design their educational, career and life readiness goals.

K-12

Academic Studies

  • The Rising Start provides a comprehensive K–12 academic program that includes core subjects found in traditional schools, such as math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. Instruction is designed to emphasize functional learning, helping students apply academic skills to real-life situations they will encounter in everyday life. Activities include:

    • Functional reading and writing using newspapers, real-world articles, and practical communication tasks

    • Applied math skills such as measurement, money use, and everyday problem solving

    • Science and social studies lessons connected to real-world experiences and community life

    • Practical projects and discussions that help students use academic knowledge in meaningful ways

Workforce & Entrepreneurship Skills

  • The Rising Start provides structured classes and workshops designed to help students build greater independence in daily life and develop effective social interaction skills for both personal and professional settings. Through guided instruction and practice, students gain confidence navigating everyday situations and building meaningful relationships. Activities include:

    • Daily living skills including shopping, personal care, healthy cooking, and budgeting/banking

    • Understanding social cues and emotions to improve communication and awareness

    • Non-verbal communication and social etiquette in a variety of real-world settings

    • Conflict resolution and relationship building to support positive social connections

Computer Graphic Arts Skills

  • The Rising Start offers engaging music and arts instruction through both group classes and private lessons. Students develop creative expression, teamwork, and confidence while learning musical skills that can be shared with others through performances and collaborative band experiences. Activities include:

    • Instrument instruction in Guitar, Bass Guitar, Percussion, and Keyboard

    • Skill development courses such as Guitar 1 & 2, Bass Guitar 1, Percussion 1, and Keyboard 1

    • Ear training and music fundamentals to strengthen listening and performance abilities

    • Music and entertainment studies exploring performance and creative expression

    • Opportunities to perform as part of the Rising Start Band

Community Readiness

  • The Rising Start provides hands-on opportunities for students to develop practical entrepreneurship and workplace skills. Through real-world experiences, students learn how to create products, solve problems, and interact with customers while building confidence, responsibility, and independence. Activities include:

    • Maker and creator projects developed in our Innovation Lab

    • Product design, packaging, and merchandising for student-created goods

    • Customer service and sales experiences at the Rising Start Marketplace Storefront

Life & Social Skills

  • The Rising Start offers hands-on instruction in graphic arts and creative design using tools such as Canva. Students learn practical design skills while creating real materials used in Rising Start projects and businesses, helping them see how creativity can translate into real-world applications. Activities include:

    • Graphic design projects created using Canva and other digital design tools

    • Product label design for candles and other student-created marketplace products

    • Promotional materials including flyers, brochures, and marketing graphics

    • Creative design projects that build visual communication and artistic expression skills

Music & Arts

  • The Rising Start integrates meaningful activities where students actively engage with and contribute to the community. These experiences help prepare students for real-world situations while also increasing awareness, understanding, and acceptance of neurodivergent individuals within the broader community. Activities include:

    • Rising Start Band public performances

    • Customer service and sales experiences at farmers markets and community fairs

    • Community service projects through Rising Start’s Neurodiversity Fights Food Insecurity initiative

Are You & Yours Ready To Join The Rising Start?

Schedule a call with one of our team member’s to learn about our admission process & Career Builder Track.

Schedule a Call Now!