The ProStart program is a two-year Family and Consumer Sciences Career Technical Education completer course for 11th and 12th grade high school students interested in food service, restaurant and hospitality careers. The course is an industry generated and supported program that introduces students to a multi-billion dollar industry that offers a wide variety of careers. The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) designed the program’s curriculum to correspond with industry needs and standards for post-secondary educational institutions.
Students study food safety and sanitation, customer service relations, cost control, accounting, marketing and practice professional techniques of food preparation. Students build strong culinary skills, business management and workplace skills as a result of their participation in this program. Seniors participate in an internship in the food industry that provides them with industry mentorship, real world experiences, and enhances their marketability in the industry. Representatives from various culinary institutions are invited to explain their institutions for consideration as well as field trips to acquaint students with campus life. Students acquire scholarships through cooking competitions (ProStart and CCAP) and successful completion of the ProStart program.
NOTE: For additional information refer to the Family and Consumer Science page or contact the department chairperson Debra Smith.
Admissions
Foods and Nutrition 1 and Food Trends and Technology 1 or International Culture and Cuisine with instructor approval are prerequisite courses for admission into the ProStart program. ProStart 1 begins with 11th grade and concludes in the 12th grade with ProStart 2 course in combination with the ProStart Internship.
At the conclusion of the program students will have completed the professional ServSafe Foodhandler’s Certification and a certificate of completion from the National Restaurant Association, which qualifies them for partial to full scholarships and credits towards admission in postsecondary culinary institutions.
All students enrolled in the ProStart program are required to complete the industry mentored work based learning experience of 400 hours.
Syllabi
ProStart Completer Course
FACS ProStart 1 Syllabus
FACS ProStart 2 Syllabus
Quick Links
prostart.restaurant.org