Planting the seeds for your child’s success
Upon entering The Rise School of Austin, you are greeted by a beautiful mural of a sprawling tree with flying doves displaying the quote, “There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to leave our children… one is roots and the other is wings.” Established in 2003, the mission of Rise is to provide the highest-quality early childhood education for ALL children – gifted, traditional and developmentally delayed – in an inclusive setting, where individualized learning techniques enable every child to achieve their maximum potential.
What is inclusion, and what does it look like in the early childhood classroom? Inclusion “supports the right of every infant and young child and their family, regardless of ability, to participate in a broad range of activities and contexts as full members of families, communities, and society” (DEC/NAEYC, 2009, pg. 2). “Inclusion means being intentional with instruction, classroom environment and curriculum development. It means giving every child the opportunity to learn together, no matter their abilities, interests, socioeconomic status, or cultural background, to enhance every child’s development,” according to Megen Bethune, Executive Director at The Rise School.
The belief in inclusion is what shapes The Rise School. Their masters’ level teachers and speech, physical, occupational, and music therapists are driven every day by current and former Rise students who have made significant strides in their cognitive, physical, language, and social development.
“We are grateful that inclusion is such a strong force in the culture of The Rise School,” says Rise parent Kate Robinson. “Inclusion is pervasive at Rise, and it has meant that both of our children are learning to recognize their feelings, tolerate emotions, and accept themselves. They are also learning the same acceptance and compassion for their classmates. Both my child with developmental delays and my typically developing child have made enormous developmental leaps, moved toward greater independence, and deepened their hunger for learning because of inclusion.”
Research has shown that children with disabilities benefit from learning alongside their typically developing peers. They are more engaged in the classroom, they receive more instruction in both functional and academic activities, and the quality of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) improves (Bui, Quirk, Almazan, and Valenti, 2010). “No studies conducted since the late 1970s have shown an academic advantage for students with intellectual and other developmental disabilities educated in separate settings” (Falvey, 2004).
Typically developing students also benefit from inclusion. The Rise School is proof that inclusion provides better outcomes for children with and without developmental delays. “The presence of students with disabilities results in a greater number of typical students making reading and math progress compared to non-inclusive general education classes” (Waldron, Cole, and Majd, 2001). Each Rise student learns necessary skills for being productive, empathetic, compassionate human beings who contribute to society in a meaningful way, becoming the leaders we want them to be.
“With 90% of brain development occurring before the age of five, it is crucial that children are provided a high quality, individually tailored early childhood education,” says Megen Bethune. “Just as no two snowflakes are alike, no two children learn and develop in the same way. Rise not only values individuality but also embraces the exceptional contribution each child brings to the school community. At Rise, we are able to give our children strong roots, so they are able to spread their wings.”
“Research has shown that children with disabilities benefit from learning alongside their typically developing peers. They are more engaged in the classroom, they receive more instruction in both functional and academic activities, and the quality of the Individualized Education Plan improves.”
The Rise School is now enrolling for the 2019-2020 school year.
Contact:
512-891-1682
riseschoolaustin.org
4800 Manor Rd Building J
