Due to the current CDC guidelines, the FRLAEF had to cancel the ProStart Teacher Training Institute (TTI). However, we are working with Johnson & Wales University (JWU) to provide some virtual TTI classes geared towards topics covered in the ProStart curriculum. The classes will be available before the end of June. The format of the classes have not been determine nor has the delivery method or the number of classes that will be available.
To start this process we need to determine what topics, if any, you would like to learn more about. The JWU chefs and staff put together some topics they could teach online. Please complete the survey below to provide feedback on these topics and to add others.
CLICK HERE to take a survey to let us know what you would like a virtual TTI to look like this year.
ProStart Back on CAPE List for 2020-2021 + COA Hours For 2020
On April 30, CareerSource Florida’s executive committee approved 18 additional certification that were not on the original February 20th list. The ProStart Certificate of Achievement (ProStart COA) was one of the 18 certifications added back to the list! These certifications are only approved for one additional year which means they will be removed from the list on June 30, 2021. However, it does mean you are able to get CAPE funding for the ProStart COA throughout all of the 2020-2021 school year.
If you have graduating students that are short COA hours, please contact us for ideas on how they can earn their hours during the quarantine.
REMOTE PROCTORING FOR PROSTART NOW AVAILABLE!
Today Florida’s DOE approved the ProStart exams for remote proctoring. CLICK HERE for the list of approved home testing certifications. This process will allow your approved proctor to administer the ProStart exam to up to 3 students at one time. The process for scheduling the exam is the same as in the past. However, you will now watch the students take the exam using your school sanctioned web/video conferencing software.
In order to administer the ProStart exams, use the steps below:
- Each examinee must have an exam access codes* (codes may be purchased at https://textbooks.restaurant.org/ or you may contact Liz Rice at LRice@restaurant.org if you need a quote)
- CLICK HERE for instructions on how to virtually proctor the exam. To learn how to become a Proctor, CLICK HERE.
- Send THIS LETTER to each examinee
*If the school has previously purchased Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts scantron exam answer sheets, instructors may exchange them 1:1 for online exam codes by emailing Liz Rice at LRice@restaurant.org and requesting an exchange form. Please return your print answer sheets to NRAEF by September 1, 2020 or your return to school date to avoid being invoiced for the exam access codes. If you are eligible to receive free online codes for ProStart (Premier or Full ProStart Schools), and are in need of these resources, please let us know!
Online Resources Page–UPDATED MATERIALS!
Announcing free e-books and digital resources through June 30!
Free Foundations of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts, 2nd edition e-book
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is providing free FRMCA second edition e-books to our ProStart schools through June 30, 2020. Using the NRAEF ProStart list compiled from this year’s survey results, they will distribute access codes and instructions to each school’s survey responder. Teachers will receive the codes directly on 4/16 or 4/17. Schools using FRMCA 2/e who did not respond to the NRAEF survey this year will not receive this direct e-mail, but may request codes through their FRMCA rep (contact info below) or through textbooks@restaurant.org.
Schools using the first edition of FRMCA can access resources directly from Pearson, and those links are available on the ONLINE RESOURCES PAGE If you are in need of the first edition resources links, you can email NRAEF at textbooks@restaurant.org and they will send them to you.
ServSafe Manager e-Book and Virtual Learning for ProStart Schools
A free ServSafe Manager e-book specifically for K-12 use will also be accessible via the same access code as FRMCA 2/e. Our high school teachers will be able to provide access to the ServSafe Manager student e-book for the remainder of the school year to assist with remote learning. If teachers are using video conferencing programs such as Zoom, NRAEF does ask that you do not record your ServSafe instruction. The e-book access for both high school programs will be available only through June 30. After that date, all virtual bookshelf and downloaded instances will expire.
ServSafe Remote Proctoring – Solution in Process
NRAEF is actively pursuing a remote proctoring solution that will become available this month. More updates to come.
ProStart Exam Remote Administration – Updated Guidelines in Link & Deadline Change to June 30, 2020
This is the time of year when many schools start administering their end-of-level ProStart exams. NRAEF has relaxed the ProStart proctoring requirements to allow for remote proctoring of online exams. There have been updates since the original email, so please see the latest guidance on all NRAEF exam proctoring information including FRMCA at https://www.servsafe.com/Landing-Pages/COVID-19-Instructor-Proctor-Updates.
Note that these guidelines are in effect for FRMCA through June 30, 2020, not May 31st.
Free COVID-19 Course Training: Takeout and Delivery Available through May 31st.
At the end of March, the NRAEF released two free training videos in response to COVID-19: ServSafe Takeout: COVID-19 Precautions and ServSafe Delivery: COVID-19 Precautions. These videos are offering to schools as additional digital instructional resources. Each video course is 10 minutes long and available in English and Spanish. Students can register for either course through this link.
CLICK HERE for other resources posted on our ONLINE RESOURCES PAGE.
Florida NRAEF Contact: Liz Rice, LRice@restaurant.org
Free ServSafe Foodhandler* Extended until May 31
ServSafe is offering its online Foodhandler program for free until May 31. Please keep in mind, this is not the SafeStaff certification which is recognized by Florida’s DBPR. However, it does provide an online training program for your students to use during this remote learning time.
*A note about ServSafe Foodhandler–the ServSafe Foodhandler Certification is NOT recognized in the state of Florida. Only the FRLA’s SafeStaff Foodhandler program is recognized by Florida Statute. In other words, if your students earned the ServSafe Foodhandler, they would still need to be certified in SafeStaff to be compliant in a Florida restaurant.
But, if you are searching for an assignment for your students, the ServSafe Foodhandler is a great resource.
CLICK HERE for information and to register.
ACF To Offer Free Classes
With everything happening in our world, the American Culinary Federation (ACF) would like to offer you free CEH courses, as well as access to their COVID-19 response webinars, including the webinar specifically geared for educators. Please go to the ACF Online Learning Center at: www.acfchefs.org/olc. You will need to create a free web profile if you are not an ACF member. Then look for the ACF United bundle and webinars under the featured tab or in the catalog. For any questions or issues, please don’t hesitate to contact ACF at: educate@acfchefs.net.
Weekly Cooking Challenge Winners
Thanks to all that participated in our two weeks of cooking challenges!
The Week One Teacher Challenge winner was Ginger Stehlin, ProStart Teacher at Terry Parker High School in Jacksonville.
The Week Two Student Challenge winner was Hailey from Riverview High School in Tampa.
CLICK HERE to watch Ginger’s video
CLICK HERE to watch Hailey’s video
These are both on FaceBook, so if you do not have a FB account, go the FRLA and you can find them under Visitor Posts.
$180,000 in FRLAEF Scholarships Awarded
The FRLAEF awarded almost 70 scholarships to ProStart and HTMP students this year. Scholarship ranged from $1,000 to $5,000 and were presented during the Salute to Excellence Awards dinner on Sunday, March 8 
at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando.
SCHOLARSHIP REDEMPTION
This scholarship is contingent upon the FRLAEF receiving verification the student has been admitted and enrolled in a post-secondary institution. This is confirmed when the student emails the FRLAEF the following:
- Post-Secondary Student ID Number
- Financial Aid mailing address of their post-secondary school
The FRLAEF must receive this required documentation no later than June 12, 2020. The FRLAEF scholarship is a one-time, non-renewable award.
ServSafe Proctor Update
- Updated Proctor to Examinee Ratio for Online Exams – ServSafe has made a change to the policy regarding the number of assistant exam proctors required depending on the number of examinees taking the online exams. From now on, if there are more than 15 examinees present, an assistant exam proctor is required to be present, with an extra assistant exam proctor required for every additional 15 examinees. The proctor to examinee ratio for Print exams continues to be 35 examinees per proctor.
Path to Power Series
The Path to Power series profiles executives in the hospitality industry and the career path they took to get there. These articles were compiled for Florida’s ProStart and HTMP students.
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