CA Requirements for Hiring a New Director

California's Minimum Requirements for Hiring a New School Nutrition Program Director

The School Nutrition Program (SNP) Director manages day-to-day operations of the school food service for all participating schools under the jurisdiction of the local educational agencies (LEAs).

In addition to the existing hiring flexibilities for small LEAs, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service, Final Rule for Child Nutrition Programs: Meal Patterns Consistent with the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (89 FR 31962) implemented flexibilities for SNP Directors of LEAs with annual student enrollment of 2,500 or more, also referred to as medium and large LEAs. These flexibilities are reflected in the guidance below and apply to SNP Directors hired after July 1, 2015. For additional information consult Management Bulletin SNP-12-2025.

A. Minimum Education Standards

1. Annual Student Enrollment 2,499 or fewer (Small)

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts,business, or a related field; or
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, in any academic major, and at least one year of paid or documented unpaid relevant food service experience; or
  
  
• Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; and at least one year of paid or documented unpaid relevant food service experience; or
  
  
• High school diploma (or general education development diploma) and at least three years of paid or documented unpaid relevant food service experience.

2. Annual Student Enrollment 499 or fewer

Effective April 30, 2019, candidates meeting the educational standards, but having less than the required three (3) years of experience may be hired as an SNP director.

3. Annual Student Enrollment 2,500-9,999 (Medium)

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; or
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, in any academic major and at least two years of relevant SNP experience; or
  
  
• Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; and at least two years of relevant SNP experience; or
  
  
• With CDE approval, 10 years or more of SNP experience.

4. Annual Student Enrollment 10,000 or more (Large)

• Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; or
  
  
• Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and at least five years of experience in management of SNPs; or
  
  
• With CDE approval, 10 years or more of SNP experience.

B. Minimum Prior Training Standards for all Student Enrollment Categories

All SNP Directors, for LEAs of all student enrollment sizes, must have completed at least eight hours of food safety training within five years prior to their starting date or complete eight hours of food safety training within 30 calendar days of their starting date. (Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations Section 210.30[b][1][v]).

In California, this requirement also applies to SNP Directors hired in their current position before July 1, 2015, but it does not apply to acting directors. The CDE strongly encourages job-related food safety training for acting SNP Directors.

C. Additional Considerations

When food service management companies are contracted to support SNPs, the LEA maintains oversight and responsibility for planning, administering, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the school meal programs; therefore, the role of SNP Director must remain with the LEA.

Regardless of job title, if personnel of a Food Service Management Company perform the job duties of the SNP Director, as described above, that individual must also meet the Professional Standards hiring education and training requirements.

D. Apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships in addition to or in place of equivalent Education and/or Experience

Training pathways can vary significantly in their structure, content, and level of documentation. Programs may differ in the number of instructional hours provided, the depth of curriculum materials, learning requirements, and how competencies are assessed and verified.

Because of this variation, apprenticeships, internships, and fellowships do not automatically demonstrate alignment with the qualifications required for an SNP Director position. A state review is required to determine whether the training and experience adequately align with CDE's SNP Director competency requirements.

Contact our Professional Standards team at ProfessionalStandards@cde.ca.gov for more information or to request a review.