We study the classification problem for left-symmetric algebras with commutation Lie algebra in characteristic . The problem is equivalent to the classification of étale affine representations of . Algebraic invariant theory is used to characterize those modules for the algebraic group which belong to affine étale representations of . From the classification of these modules we obtain the solution of the classification problem for . As another application of our approach, we exhibit left-symmetric algebra structures on certain reductive Lie algebras with a one-dimensional center and a non-simple semisimple ideal.