ProStart® – a National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) two-year program that prepares high school students for careers in the foodservice industry that reaches nearly 150,000 students in more than 1,900 high schools across 50 states, Guam and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools in Europe and the Pacific – has returned to Washington, DC, after more than a decade. RAMW, in collaboration with Educated Eats, began working toward the relaunch of this program in 2016, having recognized and acted upon the need to develop the talents of highly skilled workers in both the front and back of the house. The industry has grown exponentially during the past 10 years. In fact, it is the second largest private employer in the District after the federal government.
ProStart trains students academically in the classroom and experientially on the job. 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. ProStart® students are also provided with the chance to compete at the National ProStart Invitational, the country’s premier secondary school competition focused on restaurant management and culinary arts.
