Data Import: Demographic File Specification from SIS to SIRAS
Aug 12, 2026
Use this article as the inbound demographic file reference.
It documents the suggested fields and SIRAS import behavior for demographic data received from a non-Aeries SIS. For filenames, SFTP delivery, Training testing, Production approval, and nightly automation, use File-Based SIS Integration: Implementation Guide.
It documents the suggested fields and SIRAS import behavior for demographic data received from a non-Aeries SIS. For filenames, SFTP delivery, Training testing, Production approval, and nightly automation, use File-Based SIS Integration: Implementation Guide.
| Demographic Field Specification | Matching & Identifying Data |
| Designation & New Records | Related Integration Help |
Demographic Field Specification
Columns without data should be omitted. Alternate headers are supported when they clearly identify the field.
| Field | Alternate headers | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSID | Yes | Primary identifier used to locate the record in SIRAS. | |
| Local Student ID | LOCAL_ID, STUDENT_ID | Recommended | SIS record identifier; may optionally also update SIRAS Student ID. |
| Last Name | LAST_NAME | Yes | |
| First Name | FIRST_NAME | Yes | |
| Birthdate | BIRTHDATE, DOB | Yes | |
| Middle Name | MIDDLE_NAME | No | |
| Name Suffix | GENERATION | No | |
| School of Attendance | SCH_CODE | No | 7-digit CDS school code; include NPS/private-school code when applicable. |
| Site Code | SITE_CODE | No | Optional local school identifier. |
| School Type | SCH_TYPE | No | CALPADS code value. |
| District of Geographic Residence | DIST_RESI, DOGR | No | 7-digit CDS district code. |
| School of Residence | SCH_RESI | No | 7-digit CDS school code. |
| Grade Level | GRADE | No | CALPADS or approved mapped value. |
| Gender | GENDER | No | CALPADS code value. |
| Federal Ethnicity | ETHNICITY | No | Y/500, N/501, or NA/900 style values. |
| Race1 | RACE1 | No | CALPADS race-category value. |
| Race2 | RACE2 | No | CALPADS race-category value. |
| Race3 | RACE3 | No | CALPADS race-category value. |
| English Language Acquisition Status | EL_TYPE | No | EL, EO, RFEP, or IFEP. |
| RFEP Date | RFEP_DATE | No | Include when EL_TYPE is RFEP. |
| Primary Language Code | NATIV_LANG | No | CALPADS language code. |
| Migrant | MIGRANT | No | Y/N. |
| Primary Residence Category | RESID_STAT | No | CALPADS code value. |
| Designation | No | SPED, 504, or SST when new-record creation is expected. | |
| PreferredFirstName | Alternate First Name | No | Requires the applicable SIRAS alternate-name setting for forms. |
| PreferredLastName | Alternate Last Name | No | |
| District Enrollment Date | District Enrollment | No | Most recent district enrollment date. |
Matching and Identifying Data
SSID is the primary matching identifier. SIRAS may also use Local Student ID, name, birthdate, and other approved information.
Identifying fields are protected by default.
Student ID, SSID, and legal names are not normally overwritten automatically. A loose-match/update option may be enabled only after review. When an SSID changes in the SIS, coordinate the verified correction in SIRAS rather than assuming the nightly file will change it safely.
Student ID, SSID, and legal names are not normally overwritten automatically. A loose-match/update option may be enabled only after review. When an SSID changes in the SIS, coordinate the verified correction in SIRAS rather than assuming the nightly file will change it safely.
Local ID versus Student ID
- Local ID is expected to match the SIS identifier.
- Student ID may be the same value or a separate SELPA/Special Education identifier.
- SIRAS can optionally map the SIS identifier to both fields when approved.
Search for an existing transferred, inactive, renamed, or near-duplicate record before creating a student manually.
Designation and New-Record Creation
SIRAS can update existing records without a Designation field. New-record creation requires reliable program information.
- Special Education or being evaluated for Special Education;
- Section 504;
- SST, when included in the approved implementation.
The district may:
- provide separate files for each program; or
- provide a consolidated file containing a populated Designation column.
When the SIS cannot identify the program population:
SIRAS can process the file for updates to existing records, but new-record creation should remain disabled.
SIRAS can process the file for updates to existing records, but new-record creation should remain disabled.
