Healthy School Food Pathway
Our Healthy School Food Pathway program provides on-the-job training and networking opportunities for school food professionals at all stages of their career.
The program consists of three components, which are all formally registered with the U.S. Department of Labor: Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, and Fellowship.
The Fall 2024 Pre-Apprenticeship application opens on May 6, 2024. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
Healthy School Food Pathway
Our Healthy School Food Pathway program provides on-the-job training and networking opportunities for school food professionals at all stages of their career.
The program consists of three components, which are all formally registered with the U.S. Department of Labor: Pre-Apprenticeship, Apprenticeship, and Fellowship.
The Fall 2024 Pre-Apprenticeship application opens on May 6, 2024. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
The Pilot
Chef Ann Foundation designed the first-ever federally registered apprenticeship programs and workforce learning series for scratch-cooked school food operators, known as the Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) Program. HSFP is being implemented as a three-year pilot program, with the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship partnering with California Community Colleges, and a national Fellowship to encourage workforce development for healthy school food operators at all career levels.
California became one of the first states in the country to enact universal school meals. In the same budget, the state chose to make significant investments through farm to school grants, school kitchen infrastructure upgrades, climate smart agriculture, workforce development, and many other areas of innovation. School food leaders are a critical link in realizing the potential of these investments.
The Healthy School Food Pathway program supports workforce readiness to expand the pipeline for the next generation of school food leaders. From entry-level positions through school food management, these professionals will impact millions of children with greater access to fresh, healthy food. Across 1,037 California public school districts, skilled culinary professionals will support transformative change from within the school food system.
As we continue to grow the California program, with important funding from Governor Newsom and the California State Legislature, CAF is also working to expand to other states. Check back for future opportunities and subscribe here to receive program updates.
Program Benefits
Participating in the Healthy School Food Pathway has a variety of benefits, including:
- A work-based learning opportunity formalized with a clear path, clear delineation and objectives
- Enhanced culinary and hospitality work-based learning opportunities
- Paid experience in a new, mission-driven career pathway that provides good benefits and long-term security
- Amplified career network and connections to some of the best thought-leaders in school food
Check out the video to learn more!
Program Benefits
Participating in the Healthy School Food Pathway has a variety of benefits, including:
- A work-based learning opportunity formalized with a clear path, clear delineation and objectives
- Enhanced culinary and hospitality work-based learning opportunities
- Paid experience in a new, mission-driven career pathway that provides good benefits and long-term security
- Amplified career network and connections to some of the best thought-leaders in school food
Check out the video to learn more!
Pre-Apprenticeship
The HSFP Pre-Apprenticeship Program is a paid, work-based learning experience that aims to prepare individuals for job opportunities in healthy, scratch-cook school food programs. The 7-week program includes School Food Institute courses, virtual learning sessions, and on-the-job learning. If you have an interest in starting a career in school food service, the Pre-Apprenticeship is for you. (Currently only available to California residents)
For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
To learn more about Pre-Apprenticeship, click here.
La aplicación está disponible en inglés y español.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to participate in the Pre-Apprenticeship program. My mind was opened to the world of school food. The courses that were provided gave me insight into how schools pay for food and labor, what the goals are towards scratch cooking, and a peek into the world of a school food worker, and so much more!
2022 Pre-Apprentice, Marysville Joint Unified - Yuba Community College
Apprenticeship
Once you complete the Pre-Apprenticeship, the Apprenticeship is a paid opportunity to continue your education and training in school food. Apprentices will be paid $17/hr for the on-the-job-learning (Subject to change based on county minimum wage). Available to California residents only in 2024.
The program will be over one school year (~9 months) and include:
- 7 School Food Institute courses: 35 hours (7 hours pre-read, 7 hours homework, 21 hours online learning)
- Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) Courses: 64 hours
- 18 virtual learning sessions: 45 hours (1 hour pre-read, 1 hour session, 0.5 hours homework)
- On-the-job learning: 24 hours a week
Applications for the 2024-2025 cohort will open in Fall 2024. For program questions, contact pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
For Districts
Interested in becoming a participating Healthy School Food Pathway school district? As a host district, you will receive assistance in day-to-day operations, build a connection with local colleges for professional recruitment, develop the skill-set of current K-12 workers who participate in the program, and help promote an alternative career path for those interested in healthy school food. If your district is interested, please fill out this form so we can collect some information about your district and our team can connect with you.
Current K-12 District Worksites
| Albany Unified School District (Albany) | Centralia Elementary School District (Buena Park) | Hughson Unified School District (Hughson) | Oak Park Unified School District (Oak Park) | Santa Clara Unified School District (Santa Clara) |
| Alum Rock Union School District* (San Jose) | Chico Unified School District (Chico) | Klamath Trinity Joint Unified School District (Hoopa) | Oak Valley Union Elementary School District (Tulare) | Santa Cruz City Schools (Santa Cruz) |
| Atascadero Unified School District (Atascadero) | Cypress School District (Cypress) | Lammersville Unified School District (Mountain House) | Ocean View School District (Oxnard) | Santa Paula Unified School District (Santa Paula)* |
| Azusa Unified School District (Azusa) | Del Norte Unified School District (Crescent City)* | Live Oak Unified School District (Santa Cruz) | Oro Grande Unified School District (Oro Grande)* | Sweetwater Union High School District (Chula Vista) |
| Bear Valley Unified School District (Big Bear Lake) | Elk Grove Unified School District (Elk Grove) | Los Gatos Union Elementary School District (Los Gatos) | Oxnard Union High School District (Oxnard)* | Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (Truckee) |
| Benicia Unified School District (Benicia) | Fallbrook Union Elementary School District (Fallbrook)* | Lucia Mar Unified School District (Arroyo Grande) | Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (Palos Verdes Estates) | Templeton Unified School District (Templeton) |
| Berkeley Unified School District (Berkeley) | Fallbrook Union High School District (Fallbrook) | Magnolia Elementary School District (Anaheim) | Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (Paso Robles) | Turlock Unified School District (Turlock) |
| Brentwood Union School District (Brentwood)* | Fillmore Unified School District (Fillmore)* | Marysville Joint Unified School District (Marysville) | Porterville Unified School District (Porterville) | Twin Rivers Unified School District (North Highlands)* |
| Burbank Unified School District (Burbank)* | Fullerton School District (Fullerton) | Menifee Union School District (Menifee)* | San Bernardino City Unified School District (San Bernardino) | Vista Unified School District (Vista) |
| Calistoga Joint Unified School District (Calistoga) | Galt Joint Union High School District (Galt)* | Morgan Hill Unified School District (Morgan Hill) | San Francisco Unified School District (San Francisco)* | West Contra Costa Unified School District (Richmond) |
| Campbell Union High School District (San Jose) | Gridley Unified School District (Gridley)* | Mt. Diablo Unified School District (Concord) | San Luis Coastal Unified School District (San Luis Obispo) | Western Placer Unified School District (Lincoln) |
| Carmel Unified School District (Carmel)* | Hacienda La Puente Unified School District (City of Industry)* | Napa Valley Unified School District (Napa) | San Marcos Unified School District (San Marcos)* | Yuba Environmental Science (YES) Charter Academy (Oregon House) |
| Central Unified School District (Fresno)* | Healdsburg Unified School District (Healdsburg) | Nevada CIty School of the Arts (Nevada City) | San Miguel Joint Unified School District (San Miguel) |
Fellowship
The HSFP Fellowship Program will develop the next generation of diverse leaders in scratch-cook school food operations that can support a sustainable program and drive school food reform. Over a 12-month period, operators will grow their skills, knowledge and abilities through live, virtual learning sessions; in-person site visits and training; asynchronous, self-led instruction; and engagement within their own districts to implement their new ideas. Fellows will graduate from the program empowered to operate successful self-run, scratch-cook meal programs and advocate for serving fresh and healthy meals to students. If you have an interest in advancing your career in school food service leadership, the Healthy School Food Pathway Fellowship is the program for you. (Available to operators working under the National School Lunch Program anywhere in the U.S.)
To learn more about Fellowship, click here.
Chef Ann Foundation will not discriminate against apprenticeship applicants or apprentices based on RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX (INCLUDING PREGNANCY AND GENDER IDENTITY), SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENETIC INFORMATION, OR BECAUSE THEY ARE AN INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY OR A PERSON 40 YEARS OLD OR OLDER. Chef Ann Foundation will take affirmative action to provide equal opportunity in apprenticeship and will operate the apprenticeship program as required under Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 30.
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