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California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship

Our Pre-Apprenticeship program offers California residents an entry point to a career in healthy, scratch-cooked K–12 school food. The program is also for current school food employees who want to gain new skills.

  • The Fall 2025 California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship application is now open. Apply by August 27.
  • Interested in the Pre-Apprenticeship but not yet ready to apply? Subscribe to our interest list to get notified when the next application period opens. The Pre-Apprenticeship program is held twice a year in the spring and fall.

California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship

Our Pre-Apprenticeship program offers California residents an entry point to a career in healthy, scratch-cooked K–12 school food. The program is also for current school food employees who want to gain new skills.

  • The Fall 2025 California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship application is now open. Apply by August 27.
  • Interested in the Pre-Apprenticeship but not yet ready to apply? Subscribe to our interest list to get notified when the next application period opens. The Pre-Apprenticeship program is held twice a year in the spring and fall.

Overview 

The California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship provides experience and professional development for a career in healthy, scratch-cooked school food. This paid, on-the-job learning experience is seven weeks long. 

The Pre-Apprenticeship program was designed for California residents* who have some to no experience in school food or scratch cooking. It’s also for current school food workers who want to expand their skills, California community college students interested in exploring a culinary career supporting children’s health, and workers who have been displaced from other careers. 

The Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship is formally registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

*Participants must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S.

Overview 

The California Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship provides experience and professional development for a career in healthy, scratch-cooked school food. This paid, on-the-job learning experience is seven weeks long. 

The Pre-Apprenticeship program was designed for California residents* who have some to no experience in school food or scratch cooking. It’s also for current school food workers who want to expand their skills, California community college students interested in exploring a culinary career supporting children’s health, and workers who have been displaced from other careers. 

The Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship is formally registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

*Participants must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S.

Program Impact

Since 2022

494,602

children getting fresher meals

550+

Pre-Apprentices transforming school food across California

76

host districts

Program Impact

Since 2022

494,602

children getting fresher meals

550+

Pre-Apprentices transforming school food across California

76

host districts


Details

As a Pre-Apprentice, you’ll join a growing movement of school food professionals transforming school food across California. The seven-week program includes:

Paid, on-the-job learning

Graduates of the program gained experience in areas such as:

  • Reading and understanding recipes

  • Properly weighing and measuring ingredients using digital scales

  • Practicing mise en place and production planning

  • Sharpening knife skills and food safety knowledge


Three self-paced, online courses 

You’ll learn how to transition school meals programs to scratch-cook operations through Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute

  • School Food 101

  • Ingredients for Healthier Kids

  • Recipes & Menu Development


Two live virtual learning sessions

You’ll take part in two interactive learning sessions with your cohort, guided by experts in school food. Topics include:

  • The importance of scratch cooking in schools

  • Stategies for incorporating local and sustainable sourcing into school food


Timeline

The application for the Fall 2025 Pre-Apprenticeship is now open until August 27, 2025. 

Program Timeline Dates
Application closes August 27, 2025
Program begins October 20, 2025
Program ends December 12, 2025

After completing the program, participants will receive a certificate of completion from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards. 

Pre-Apprenticeship graduates are eligible to advance to the nine-month Apprenticeship program, which takes place over the course of a full school year.


Compensation & College Credits

California Pre-Apprentices will be paid $17 per hour for on-the-job learning in a K–12 school district. This rate is subject to change based on county minimum wages.

  • Individuals who are not already employed by a school food program are expected to work 12 hours per week over seven weeks (84 hours total).
  • Current school food employees will have a Pre-Apprenticeship work schedule that depends on their existing schedule.

Additionally, California community college credits may be available. If you are a California community college student, please contact your college’s work experience coordinator or email us at ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org if you have questions.

Compensation & College Credits

California Pre-Apprentices will be paid $17 per hour for on-the-job learning in a K–12 school district. This rate is subject to change based on county minimum wages.

  • Individuals who are not already employed by a school food program are expected to work 12 hours per week over seven weeks (84 hours total).
  • Current school food employees will have a Pre-Apprenticeship work schedule that depends on their existing schedule.

Additionally, California community college credits may be available. If you are a California community college student, please contact your college’s work experience coordinator or email us at ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org if you have questions.


Apply Today!

The Fall 2025 California Pre-Apprenticeship application is open now through August 27, 2025

If you’re passionate about making a difference in your community and eager to develop your culinary skills to support students in building lifelong healthy habits, the Pre-Apprenticeship is for you! 

If you have any questions about applying, email us at ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org.


Resources for Prospective Applicants

Chef Ann Foundation has partnered with the Foundation for California Community Colleges’ Fresh Success program to offer the Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs as SNAP Employment and Training opportunities in the following counties:

Alameda, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Diego, Solano, and Sonoma

This means that SNAP recipients partaking in these Healthy School Food Pathway programs in these counties are eligible for additional benefits and supportive services to support them for the duration of the program. These benefits are in addition to their wages earned and skills and credentials gained through Healthy School Food Pathway. Some of the supplemental services that may be available to a SNAP participant include:

  • Child or dependent care assistance
  • Transportation assistance
  • Rent/mortgage assistance
  • Internet assistance
  • Career navigation services
  • Job search and resume assistance
  • And more to support their success in completing the program and enhancing their employability.

If you currently receive SNAP benefits or think you may be eligible to receive SNAP benefits, please reach out to Taylor Lewis, our Sr. Coordinator of Workforce Programs Funding for more information. You can reach Taylor by email at taylor.lewis@chefannfoundation.org or by phone (call or text) at 419-792-0295.


Join the California Pre-Apprenticeship Interest List

Not yet ready to apply? Subscribe to our interest list to get notified when the next application period opens. The Pre-Apprenticeship is offered twice a year in the spring and fall.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

If you have a question that isn’t answered here, you can contact us by emailing ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org.

Puedes encontrar las preguntas frecuentes en español aqui

Pre-Apprentices are required to complete online courses and join live virtual learning sessions. The online courses, which are offered through the Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute can be completed remotely from anywhere. The courses are hosted by Moodle, which is an online learning platform. We highly recommend completing the courses on a laptop or desktop computer since you will be required to write and submit assignments. 

Pre-Apprentices will also need to use Zoom to attend the live virtual learning sessions. 

Microsoft Word or Google Docs will also be occasionally used for assignments.

Yes! The online School Food Institute courses have Spanish subtitles. You can change your preferred language on Moodle, which is the online learning platform we use. The live virtual learning sessions also have live Spanish translation. 

We additionally have bilingual staff that can support you throughout the entire program, from application to graduation.

No, participants are only paid for the time they work at the school district. If required, they may also be paid for completing an anti-harassment training.

During the seven weeks of the Pre-Apprenticeship you will complete a variety of tasks. This includes but is not limited to chopping fruits and vegetables, batch cooking, serving students, running the point of sale (POS) system as students move through the line, and washing dishes.

After you get selected

Yes, we will reimburse you for any expenses incurred in preparing for the program, including a background check or LiveScan, TB test, and ServeSafe certificate. 

Please let us know as soon as you receive notification that your background check is complete by emailing us at ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org
 

As part of your onboarding, you will receive instructions and an invitation to set up a Workday account. You can also view instructions HERE and watch the VIDEO for more guidance. 

After you start the program

To fill out timesheets, please include the hours you work daily and have it signed off by your supervisor every other Wednesday according to the Payment Schedule you received as part of your onboarding documents. Here is the file HERE

Your timesheet must be submitted by the end of day every other Wednesday, to ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org. As part of your onboarding materials you will receive a calendar HERE that includes exact dates for when timesheets need to be submitted. 

You will receive the recording via email, and will need to complete a reflection prompt about the topics covered in the session. You will submit your response via Moodle, our learning platform.  

Career Catalyst is a third party that the Chef Ann Foundation works with to handle payroll and workers compensation. 
Workday is the platform Career Catalyst uses to handle paperwork and payroll. 

You will receive a debit card from Career Catalyst or you may set up direct deposit on the Workday platform.

Moodle is the learning platform used for this program. This is where you will access all your online courses, find helpful materials, receive important program updates and announcements and submit reflection prompts as needed. 

Your setup information will be in your orientation guide. If you need more information, please contact ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org.
You will be prompted to reset your password to a password of your choice.
 

Participants should submit their expenses through the Workday system. Once reimbursements are approved they are added to payroll.  You can view a guide that shows you the process HERE. Spanish version guide is HERE.

It is usually within 4-6 days but can take up to 10 days.

Please reach out to ca.pathway@chefannfoundation.org and work with your supervisor to reschedule any missed hours before the end of the program.

All participants must work 12 hours per week and complete a total of 84 hours to complete the program.

Resources

Interested in learning more? Check out these downloadable resources.

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.


Discover More

Healthy School Food Pathway

Healthy School Food Pathway (HSFP) program is a work-based learning experience that aims to prepare individuals for job opportunities in healthy, scratch-cook school food programs.

School Food Institute

The School Food Institute gives school food service professionals and childhood nutrition advocates the in-depth training, operational skills, and strategic vision necessary to make school food fresh, healthy, and sustainable.

The Lunch Box

The Lunch Box is an online resource that is dedicated to supporting school districts and food service teams in transitioning their food programs from relying on processed foods to incorporating scratch cooking and fresh ingredients.

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