- The student is at least 16 years of age at the beginning of the school year or semester; at least two school years have elapsed since the student first enrolled in ninth grade; the student has completed fewer than 1/3 of the credits required for graduation under the district's or the open enrollment charter school's minimum graduation plan.
- Students ordered by a court under Family Code 65.103 (a) (3) or directed by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department are automatically accepted to the program.
There is more information at the HSEP website.