ALABASTER – Online Pre-K registration for Alabaster City Schools began Jan. 15 and will continue until Friday, March 13.

To qualify for Alabaster’s pre-K program, applicants must live in the city of Alabaster, unless he/she is an employee of ACS or the city of Alabaster. The program is open to children who are 4-years-old on or before Sept. 1.

Dr. KeAndrea Jones, federal programs supervisor and pre-K director, said Meadow View and Creek View elementary schools have three pre-K classes each. Between the two schools, the program can accommodate up to 108 children.

As of Friday, Jan. 31, Jones said 96 applications had been submitted at Creek View and 79 at Meadow View. By the March 13 deadline, Jones estimates that those numbers will have doubled or tripled.

“Our pre-K program has been increasing in popularity over the years,” she said. “When we first started the program, we would have 80 or 90 applications by the deadline, and now that’s where we’re at only two weeks in.”

A lottery drawing will be conducted Tuesday, March 31, at 9 a.m. to determine who has been accepted into the program. The drawing will take place at the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education building, which is located at 10111 Alabama 119.

Jones said the names of winners will be drawn at random and read aloud. Parents are invited to attend the drawing, but do not have to be present to win. Those not present will be contacted by the school system.

Applications can be accessed online at Acsboe.org. Those who do not have access to a computer, may go to either elementary school or the central office to complete the application online.