Teachers
ProStart
ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and hospitality management program backed by California’s restaurant industry.
Be sure to check the resources below to make sure you are maximizing ProStart at your school! Or, see how you can become a ProStart school.
Resources for Teachers
Events
Make the most out of ProStart! Register for events hosted by CRAF:
Experience Hospitality
FIT
CA ProStart Cup
Professional Development
ProStart educators are invited to the exclusive R&D conference “The Flavor Experience”. During the 3-day conference, educators split their time between workshops and a kitchen internship.
Certificates for Students
The following industry-backed certificates are available to your students:
-California Work Ready Certificate (CRAF)
-Certificate of Achievement (NRAEF)
-FIT Certificate (CRAF)
-ServSafe + CA Food Handler Card
To learn more, contact Natalie Tong at ntong@calrest.org
The Flavor Experience
ProStart educators are invited to the exclusive R&D conference “The Flavor Experience”. During the 3-day conference, educators split their time between workshops and a kitchen internship. Space is limited to 20 teachers.
Become a ProStart School!
What is ProStart?
ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and hospitality management program developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. The curriculum is comprehensive and covers: safety and sanitation, basic cooking techniques, knife skills, entrepreneurship and business. CRAF enriches ProStart programs by connecting schools with industry. We do this through field trips, guest speakers, mentoring, grants, competitions and scholarships. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-life experience opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime.
CRAF supports the ProStart program in the state’s 140+ public high schools serving more than 9,000 students. Internationally, ProStart includes 140,000 students across the United States, Guam, Europe, and Asia.
How do I become a ProStart school?
It’s simple: Once you have adopted the Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts text books, you are considered a ProStart school and have access to all ProStart activities and benefits offered by the California Restaurant Association Foundation. There is no annual fee to be a ProStart school.
Support for ProStart Schools:
- Professional development opportunities for instructors
- Scholarships for students
- FIT – a job readiness training program for students
- National ProStart Certificate of Achievement
- CRA Workforce Ready Card
- “Experience Hospitality” – half-day leadership summit
- Annual high school culinary arts and hospitality management competition
For more info or to request a sample copy of the textbook: Contact Natalie Tong at ntong@calrest.org
