Colorado Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship
Our Pre-Apprenticeship program offers Colorado 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 Spring 2025 Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship application is open now through January 31, 2025.
Colorado Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship
Our Pre-Apprenticeship program offers Colorado 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 Spring 2025 Colorado Pre-Apprenticeship application is open now through January 31, 2025.
Overview
The Colorado Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship provides an entry point to 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 Colorado residents who have little to no experience in school food or scratch cooking. It’s also for current school food workers who want to expand their skills and workers who have been displaced from other careers.
Overview
The Colorado Healthy School Food Pathway Pre-Apprenticeship provides an entry point to 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 Colorado residents who have little to no experience in school food or scratch cooking. It’s also for current school food workers who want to expand their skills and workers who have been displaced from other careers.
Details
The Pre-Apprenticeship program includes:
- Seven weeks of paid, on-the-job learning at a participating K–12 school district (12 hours per week)
- Four online courses through Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute: School Food 101, Ingredients for Healthier Kids, Recipes & Menu Development (20 hours)
- Two live virtual learning sessions with scratch cooking and school food experts (1.5 hours each)
- Networking opportunities with other school food professionals
Pre-Apprenticeship graduates are eligible to advance to the nine-month Apprenticeship program, which takes place over the course of a full school year.
Participants must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S.
Details
The Pre-Apprenticeship program includes:
- Seven weeks of paid, on-the-job learning at a participating K–12 school district (12 hours per week)
- Four online courses through Chef Ann Foundation’s School Food Institute: School Food 101, Ingredients for Healthier Kids, Recipes & Menu Development (20 hours)
- Two live virtual learning sessions with scratch cooking and school food experts (1.5 hours each)
- Networking opportunities with other school food professionals
Pre-Apprenticeship graduates are eligible to advance to the nine-month Apprenticeship program, which takes place over the course of a full school year.
Participants must be at least 18 years old and eligible to work in the U.S.
Compensation
Colorado Pre-Apprentices will be paid $14.42 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.
Compensation
Colorado Pre-Apprentices will be paid $14.42 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.
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.
