Want to help plan and cook fresh, healthy meals for California kids?
Get paid to jumpstart a career in school food with 7 weeks of hands-on experience, and gain school food expertise with self-paced online courses.
Whether it’s your first job or your next step, you’ll build skills you can use in school kitchens across California.
Applications close Aug 27; Program runs Oct 20–Dec 12.
Spots are limited. Start your journey today.
More schools are shifting to freshly prepared, nutritious meals made with real ingredients. This program gives you the skills to be part of that change.
In paid training, you will get to:
This is a paid, 7-week, part-time opportunity. While it’s not a full-time job, it can help you land one. You’ll build real kitchen skills and gain experience that school food employers are looking for.
No experience is required — just interest and a willingness to learn! If you’ve taken culinary classes, worked in a restaurant, or helped prepare meals at home, that experience can be helpful, but it’s not necessary.
Yes! This program is a great fit for college students, especially those studying culinary arts, health, or education, who want real-world experience. Many students complete the program while still in school, sometimes fulfilling internship requirements or even earning college credit, depending on their institution.
There’s no cost to join the program. In some cases, participants may need to arrange for things like background checks or health screenings, but the Chef Ann Foundation will reimburse these costs.
Participants take three self-paced classes online through the School Food Institute platform to learn more about school food, fresh ingredients, and menu planning. There are no fees associated with the coursework.
Pre-Apprentices complete their hands-on training at one of our 70+ partner school districts located across California.
Participants complete 12 hours of hands-on training per week, along with approximately 3 hours of online learning per week, over the 7-week program.
Graduates earn a certificate of completion from the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards and are encouraged to apply for the Apprentice program to continue building their careers.