All Alabama schools are now accepting online Pre-K applications for the 2018-2019 school year, and school officials say the process has changed this year.

With one online enrollment form, local parents may apply to have their children included in the lottery for Pre-K programs at Straughn, Pleasant Home, Red Level, Opp, W.S. Harlan and Andalusia elementary schools. When applying, parents may select more than one program to which they would like to apply.

Sonja Hines, district administrator for federal programs in Andalusia City Schools, explained that the process allows parents to apply for more than one program, but helps systems determine as they hold their lotteries if a child has already been selected for placement by another system. District rules apply, Hines said, however, there are some circumstances when a child might be eligible for placement in more than one district. For instance, a child who lives in the county jurisdiction, but has siblings in the city system, might be eligible for the city system.

The enrollment is open to all children four years of age on or before Sun., Sep. 2, 2018.

Documents that need to provided are, a copy of the child’s birth certificate, proof of residence, which can be a current utility bill or a copy of a lease or mortgage and upon enrollment the child’s immunization record. All records may be uploaded into the online pre-registration site or submitted directly to the school/program.

There is no registration fee for this program, and no child will be denied participation on basis of income, sex, race, color, national origin or disability.

The application process began Monday and will continue through Tues., March 20.

Each program will choose a date and hold a random selection drawing for next year’s classes. After the random selection drawing process, the results will then be marked as either pending or waitlisted.

Applicants have to go online to https://alprek.asapconnected.com to complete the pre-registration form and submit the proper documents.

Acceptance is strictly through random drawing to be held on Tues., March 20, at noon at Covington County Schools Central Offices and notices will be emailed beginning Mon., Apr. 16. The enrollment period will be finished as of Thurs., Apr. 19, and then the classes will be created.

Andalusia City Schools will hold their random drawing on Tues., Mar. 20, at 10 a.m. at Woodson Learning Center.