Material that Matters, Learning that Leads
Trade Foundations Labs
Employment Readiness and Transition Support
Trade Foundations Labs is a comprehensive, hands-on workforce development program designed to assess and build students' interests, strengths, and preferences across four essential career cluster series: Building and Moving, Hospitality and Facilities, Retail and Marketing, and Office Administration.
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The program consists of 20 labs total — five labs per series — each delivered in a ready-to-use box packed with everything needed for meaningful, structured learning. Every lab includes:
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Supplies for hands-on task completion
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Facilitator directions for easy implementation
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Data tracking tools to monitor progress
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Task analyses to support skill development step by step
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Rooted in workforce development principles, Trade Foundations Labs bridges the gap between the classroom and the workplace by targeting three critical areas: employment readiness, life skills, and functional academics. Each lab is thoughtfully designed to give students real-world exposure to trade-based career pathways while building the practical competencies employers value most.
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Whether a student is discovering their first career interest or strengthening skills they already have, Trade Foundations Labs provides a structured, measurable, and engaging path toward greater independence and employment success.
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At the heart of theAt the heart of the Building and Moving Series is a simple but powerful mission: find out what a student likes, uncover what they're good at, and build the skills that open the door to competitive employment. Building and Moving Series is a simple but powerful mission: find out what a student likes, uncover what they're good at, and build the skills that open the door to competitive employment.
The Building and Moving series was developed to give students meaningful exposure to the skilled trades and physical labor sectors of the workforce.
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Born from the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Framework, this series was carefully evaluated and refined through the expertise of special education professionals and job developers — ensuring every lab is both vocationally relevant and accessibly designed for a diverse range of learners.
Across five hands-on labs, students are guided through real-world tasks rooted in building, moving, and trade-based work. Each lab is intentionally structured to:
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Discover interests — Identify what students enjoy and what naturally engages them
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Map strengths — Reveal what students are good at within this career cluster
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Build exposure — Introduce students to the types of work found in building and moving career pathways
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Develop skills — Grow the practical competencies needed for positions in these fields
Building and Moving
Retail and Marketing
The Retail and Marketing series is built to immerse students in the fast-paced, customer-focused world of retail and marketing careers.
Rooted in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Framework and refined through the expertise of special education professionals and job developers, this series brings the retail environment into a structured, accessible learning experience — giving students a genuine look at what it means to work in one of the most widely available employment sectors.
Across five hands-on labs, students engage with real retail tasks and scenarios designed to mirror the expectations of today's workplace. Lab activities include:
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Mock Point of Sale — Practicing transactions and building customer service skills in a simulated checkout experience
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Packaging and Displaying Inventory — Learning how products are prepared and presented to attract customers
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Stocking and Counting Inventory — Developing the organizational skills and attention to detail required for inventory management
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Retail Visual Display — Folding and arranging clothing and merchandise to meet professional retail presentation standards
Each lab is intentionally structured to discover what students enjoy, map where their strengths lie, and develop the job-ready skills that lead to competitive employment in retail and marketing settings — all within a safe, controlled, and supportive environment.
Office Administration
The Office and Administration series is the fourth career cluster series within the Trade Foundations Labs program, designed to introduce students to the structured, detail-oriented world of office and administrative work. Through the collaborative lens of special education professionals and job developers, this series translates the everyday functions of a professional office environment into accessible, hands-on learning experiences that build real workplace readiness. Across five hands-on labs, students engage with the core tasks and routines that keep offices and organizations running smoothly. Lab activities include:
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Data Entry — Building accuracy, focus, and basic technology skills through hands-on keyboarding and record-keeping tasks
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Filing — Learning organizational systems and attention to detail through proper document sorting and management
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Packing and Prepping Mail — Practicing the step-by-step processes involved in preparing and handling professional correspondence and mailings
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Office Supply Familiarization — Gaining confidence and competency in the proper use of everyday office tools and equipment
Each lab is thoughtfully structured to uncover student interests, identify individual strengths, and build the practical skills needed for competitive employment in office and administrative settings, all within a safe, supportive, and controlled environment. The Office and Administration Series empowers students to navigate a professional workspace with competence and confidence — laying the foundation for a successful career path in one of the most versatile employment fields available.
Hospitality and Facilities
The Hospitality and Facilities series is one of four career cluster series within the Trade Foundations Labs program, designed to introduce students to the dynamic and people-centered world of hospitality and facilities management.
Grounded in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Framework, this series was thoughtfully evaluated and shaped through the lens of special education professionals and job developers — ensuring that every lab reflects the real demands of the industry while remaining accessible and meaningful for all learners.
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Across five hands-on labs, students explore tasks and skills connected to hospitality services, facilities upkeep, and the environments that keep businesses and communities running. Each lab is purposefully designed to:
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Discover interests — Uncover what excites and motivates students within hospitality and facilities work
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Map strengths — Identify the natural abilities students bring to this career cluster
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Build exposure — Connect students to the variety of roles and responsibilities found in hospitality and facilities settings
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Develop skills — Cultivate the practical, job-ready competencies required for positions in these fields
