Andalusia City Schools will have a pre-K program for the first time ever, beginning in August.

Superintendent Ted Watson told board members Monday that the system has received grant funding for a Pre-K class serving up to 18 children. The grant funds will pay a teacher and an aide for the class.

Special education coordinator Sonja Hines, who wrote the grant, said children will be selected for the class through a lottery system.

An application will be available on the school system’s web site, in the central office and at Andalusia Elementary School in the near future, Hines said.

“We only found out we got the grant on Friday,” she said.

The K-4 program will be housed at Andalusia Elementary in a classroom adjacent to the indoor playground. The room gives students easy access to a fenced playground, which is required, she said.

The K-4 teacher must have early childhood certification, she said, and the aide must have nine hours or an associate’s degree in early childhood education.

The $92,000 grant is renewable for two years.

At present, Red Level has a K-4 program, and Opp City Schools operates a half-day program.