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The foodservice industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States. While growth is desirable, it also increases our industry’s labor shortage. In 1999, the LRA started administering the ProStart®program.

ProStart® is a new approach to learning in today’s schools. The program links students, schools and workplaces together in order to have one continuous learning experience. A partnership between local schools and restaurants, students in the 11th and 12th grade complete the nationally endorsed ProStart® curriculum. The dynamic and comprehensive curriculum encourages student to learn all aspects of the operating and managing of a food service establishment. This is accomplished by students taking the ProStart® class in school then proceeding to work (after school) in a structured hands-on worksite. Employers provide more than a paid work experience. They also provide students with workplace knowledge that is directly tied to their school lessons.


The ProStart® curriculum provides textbooks, videos, lesson plans and other tools designed to integrate the school-based and work- based learning. Students will have a chance to follow a direct career path to their future.

The ProStart® program was developed to increase the quality and employability of today’s high school graduates by providing them with training related to important job skills as well as opportunities for careers and higher education.

Components of ProStart®

  • School-based learning
    • Skill competencies developed and tested
    • Four semesters of classwork in:
      • strategic business management
      • customer skill training
      • food preparation
      • workforce readiness
  • Work-based learning
    • Three semesters of internship in a variety of industry settings: Quick serve, Casual, Fine Dining, Corporate, Catering, or Institutional paid with an industry mentor in Louisiana Restaurant Association member operations
    • Credential of mastery awarded from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation at completion of the program
  • Connecting activities
    • College and university articulation, scholarships
    • Recruiting employers
    • Giving technical assistance to teachers and mentors
  



ProStart® Overview

Program Components

Course Outline & Learning Objectives

Participating Schools

For Schools: How can your
school participate?

For Restauranteurs: Learn more
about becoming a ProStart® worksite.

Benefits for Students:

  • Learn state-of-the-art, high-level industry skills at school and in foodservice operations
  • Gain work experience and insight about the industry with several employee mentors
  • Have a career path in growth-oriented industry and develop a network of contacts to serve as resources for a career in the industry
  • Access post-secondary opportunities for advanced education and training
  • Be nationally certified by the industry and have access to multitude of jobs

Benefits for the Industry:

  • Develop and improve industry leadership for the future
  • Elevate the importance of training state-of-the-art managers
  • Be a part of the national team for training School-to-Work managers and improving the image of the industry
  • Have access to a constant labor pool of successful program graduates
  • Reduce company “new hire” recruitment and training cost

Louisiana Restaurant Association2700 N. Arnoult Road, Metairie, LA 70002Phone (504) 454-2277Fax (504) 454-2299

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