SWDS Component: Eligibility and Participation Status
Aug 06, 2026
SWDS Component: Eligibility and Participation Status
Use this article to understand the SWDS component stored in a SIRAS archived transaction.
Contents
| What SWDS Represents | Primary SWDS Information |
| Current Status and NPR Codes | When a New SWDS Is Needed |
| Exit Crosswalk and Offboarding | How SIRAS Creates SWDS History |
| Review and Correct | Related Help |
What the SWDS Component Represents
SWDS records preserve changes in a student’s special education eligibility and participation status over time. A correct earlier SWDS record remains part of the student’s history; a later status change is normally represented by adding a later SWDS record.
SWDS history is additive.
Do not rewrite a valid older status merely because the student later became active, inactive, enrolled, not enrolled, participating, or not participating.
Do not rewrite a valid older status merely because the student later became active, inactive, enrolled, not enrolled, participating, or not participating.
Primary SWDS Information
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Special Education Initial Entry Start Date | The original date the parent or guardian consented to the initial provision of special education and related services. Once established, this date normally remains part of the student’s continuing history. |
| Special Education Status Effective Start Date | The date the reported eligibility or participation status became effective. |
| Special Education Status Code | The applicable SWDS status. |
| Non-Participation Reason Code | The reason the student is not participating when required by the selected status and outcome. |
The Initial Entry Start Date is a continuing historical field, not a date that is reset for each district or later status change.
Current SWDS Status Codes and Non-Participation Reasons
Special Education Status
| Code | Current CALPADS meaning |
|---|---|
| [1] Eligible and Participating | The student is eligible and will participate in special education. |
| [2] Eligible and Not Participating | The student is eligible but is not participating, including certain eligible students awaiting acceptance of FAPE. |
| [3] Eligible and Not Enrolled | The student is eligible but is not enrolled and is not expected to reenroll in a California public or private school under the situations allowed by the code definition. |
| [4] Not Eligible | The student is not eligible for special education or related services. |
Current Non-Participation Reasons
| Code | Use |
|---|---|
| [11] | Eligible — No Education Plan because the parent declined FAPE or services. |
| [12] | Eligible — No Education Plan Currently; a future plan is expected. |
| [21] | Not Eligible after initial evaluation. |
| [22] | No Parental Consent Received — Part C to Part B evaluation. |
| [23] | Maximum age. |
| [25] | Returned to California, no longer eligible. |
| [26] | IFSP team determined no Part B evaluation was needed. |
| [27] | Not Eligible — no parental consent for initial provision of special education and services. |
| [28] | Not Eligible — written revocation. |
| [29] | Eligible — cessation of service without revocation. |
| [30] | No Longer Eligible after reevaluation or standard high school diploma. |
| [31] | Left school and not expected to return under the situations allowed by the current code definition. |
NPR [24] Withdrawal is retired.
It ended June 30, 2024. Use the current distinction between [28] written revocation and [29] cessation without revocation.
It ended June 30, 2024. Use the current distinction between [28] written revocation and [29] cessation without revocation.
When a New SWDS Component Is Needed
A new SWDS component is appropriate when the student’s eligibility or participation status actually changes. Examples include:
- an Initial Evaluation establishes eligibility and participation;
- an Initial Evaluation determines the student is not eligible;
- the student stops participating but remains eligible;
- the student becomes eligible but is not enrolled;
- the student returns to participation after a different status; or
- a later evaluation ends eligibility.
A district transfer by itself does not require another identical SWDS status when the status has not changed. The receiving district may instead need the applicable PLAN and SERV baseline.
Use the Exit Crosswalk for Offboarding Decisions
When a student leaves enrollment or stops participating:
- Review the CALPADS SENR exit reason, exit date, and completion code.
- Use Appropriate SWDS Status and Non-Participation Reason for Student Exit Categories and Completion Statuses — May 2026.
- If SWDS [1] remains, make the local SIRAS record Inactive using a non-reportable reason and do not create another SWDS record.
- If SWDS changes to [2], [3], or [4], update Current and create the new SWDS archive.
Scenario matters.
Completion codes, no-show records, private-school transfers, and parent-choice situations may have more than one possible outcome. Do not choose SWDS/NPR solely from a broad SIRAS inactive category.
Completion codes, no-show records, private-school transfers, and parent-choice situations may have more than one possible outcome. Do not choose SWDS/NPR solely from a broad SIRAS inactive category.
How SIRAS Creates or Updates SWDS History
- Finalizing an applicable IEP Manager event can create the SWDS component automatically.
- Archive for Reporting can create a status transaction when the change occurred outside the ordinary meeting workflow.
- Plan Adoption can include SWDS [1] Eligible and Participating when the incoming CALPADS status and actual arrival outcome require a new status.
- The Report Event Date and SWDS effective date must represent the actual event.
For the component/container relationship, see Archived Transaction Components: SWDS, MEET, PLAN, and SERV.
Review and Correct SWDS Information
- Verify the actual field event, eligibility/participation outcome, and effective date.
- Review SENR exit reason/date/completion status when an enrollment exit occurred.
- Use the current exit-to-SWDS crosswalk and CALPADS code definitions.
- Review Current, the governing archived transaction, and existing CALPADS SWDS history.
- Preserve valid earlier SWDS records.
- For a later real status change, create a later SWDS archive.
- For bad data, correct Current and the existing archive that reported it; remove the bad CALPADS entry, set the corrected transaction to Pending, and resend it.
- Confirm CALPADS acceptance.
