High School Equivalency Program Operation

On this page you can learn about the operation and application of a high school equivalency program (HSEP). You can find various subjects in the box with links to the right. The HSEP Forms section includes information for HSEP students attempting to take the equivalency exam.

HSEP Forms

The following links contain information on the forms for a HSEP:

• Authorization to Test Form
• Student Enrollment and Exit Spreadsheet
• Student Attendance Forms
• School Contact Information Form
• Application Form

Authorization to Test Form

The high school with a HSEP must submit an authorization to test through the Help Desk for your students once they have registered at our approved testing vendor, GED Testing Service.

Authorization to test process:

1. Ensure your students have registered to test. During registration they must indicate they are: (i) currently enrolled in high school and (ii) are in a high school equivalency program (options program).
2. The high school completes the authorization ticket for each student through the Help Desk application.
3. TEA staff will release the alert on the student's GED account.
4. Once approved the students can schedule one or more to tests.

Note: HSEP students do not need to complete a parent/guardian underage ticket.

Student Enrollment and Exit Spreadsheet

The HSEP requires information regarding the effectiveness of the program as mandated by the legislature in Texas Education Code, §29.087(l). The HSEP Spreadsheet contains information required for student reporting that the high school must email to TEA. Contact TEA to receive your spreadsheet and password.

Important: You must send the student information through TEA's Help Desk, which is a secure application, and attach the spreadsheet to the ticket.

Student Attendance Forms

You can track student attendance using the HSEP Attendance Registers (PDF). If you would like a version in MS-Word, make a request by submitting a Help Desk ticket. For more information regarding ADA funding for HSEP students, visit HSEP and ADA Funding.

School Contact Information Process

Update your contact information by submitting a Help Desk ticket.

1. Click the link above.
2. From the "Request" drop down menu select Contact Information.
3. Fill in the information and click on the "Submit" button when completed.

HSEP and Average Daily Attendance Funding as per Student Attendance Accounting Handbook

A student is counted as in attendance based on the actual number of daily contact minutes the student receives instruction in the HSEP, in traditional classes that count toward graduation requirements, or in both. A student must receive instruction in the HSEP (or the HSEP in combination with traditional coursework) at least 45 minutes on a given day for instructional contact time to be recorded. If actual instructional contact time in the HSEP (or the HSEP in combination with traditional coursework) does not equal at least 45 minutes on a given day, your district must record 0 minutes of instructional contact time for that day. The maximum number of instructional contact minutes allowed each school day, including any classroom time accounted for in traditional courses toward graduation requirements, is 600 minutes.

HSEP attendance is reported using the 42401 series TSDS PEIMS records. For students in grades 9–12 who are ADA eligible, create at least one record for TSDS PEIMS reporting for each student who attends at least 45 minutes in the HSEP within the indicated reporting period.

A district must report all minutes of instruction attended by a student for each six-week reporting period. However, no student may generate more than one ADA for FSP funding purposes for a school year within a district or campus. If a student participates in both the HSEP and the traditional attendance program, the student must not generate more than one ADA for FSP funding purposes for a six-week reporting period within a district or campus.

Summary

You must keep an attendance time log of HSEP students. You will need this in case you are audited.

You must record time in minutes for each reporting period. A minimum of 45 minutes per day is required.

You must create a 42401 series TSDS PEIMS record for each reporting period for each HSEP student.

Resources

See the Student Attendance Accounting Handbook, Section 11 - Nontraditional Programs - HSEP Attendance Accounting and Funding.

You can track student attendance with an HSEP Attendance Register (PDF). 

HSEP Students and Assessment Testing

Students participating in the HSEP must be current with their assessment testing according to Texas Education Code §39.023. If their graduation plan requires STAAR testing, then HSEP students will only need to take the STAAR exam if they have completed a course which requires an end of course (EOC) assessment.  A student does not need to continue EOC testing even though they may have failed a previous test.

Exceptions for assessment testing are for the following:

• Students ordered by a court under the Family Code, Section 65.103


• Students in the Texas Juvenile Justice Department.

Content Updated 9/26/2023