CALPADS error brief · SINF
SINF0046
Official CALPADS rule
What CALPADS is rejecting
Focus fields
Fields validated
2.25 - Student Race 1 Code 2.26 - Student Race 2 Code 2.27 - Student Race 3 Code 2.28 - Student Race 4 Code 2.29 - Student Race 5 Code 2.30 - Student Race Missing IndicatorRecommended correction path
Suggested resolution
Read the complete validation
CALPADS rule: Student Race Missing Indicator must accurately reflect what is populated in Student Race Codes 1–5.
Severity: Fatal Type: Input Validation
Fields validated:
- 2.25 Student Race 1 Code
- 2.26 Student Race 2 Code
- 2.27 Student Race 3 Code
- 2.28 Student Race 4 Code
- 2.29 Student Race 5 Code
- 2.30 Student Race Missing Indicator
Hispanic or Latino is not a substitute for the race response in the current SINF layout. Regardless of the answer in field 2.23, review race fields 2.25–2.30 separately. A student may identify as Hispanic or Latino and with one or more races.
The second part of the current CALPADS structure
After the separate Hispanic/Latino ethnicity question, the respondent may select one or more races. CALPADS provides five ordered positions so multiple selections can be retained:
- Race 1 is the first required position when any race is reported.
- Race 2–5 are additional selections; they must not be populated while Race 1 is blank.
- Race Missing Indicator describes whether all five positions were intentionally left blank because no race response is available.
Valid and invalid race patterns
| Race 1 | Race 2–5 | Race Missing | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supported code | Blank | N or blank | Consistent: one race was reported. |
| Supported code | One or more additional supported codes | N or blank | Consistent: multiple races were reported. |
| Supported code | Any | Y | Invalid: race is both supplied and declared missing. |
| Blank | Blank | Y | Consistent: no race response is available. |
| Blank | Blank | N or blank | Invalid/incomplete: no code is supplied and missingness is not properly reported. |
| Blank | Race 2, 3, 4, or 5 populated | Any value | Invalid sequence: move the first supported selection into Race 1. |
The official SINF0046 resolution says the Missing Indicator may be Y “or blank” when all race codes are absent. The Version 18 field rule and current SINF interface state that the Missing Indicator is required when all race codes are blank. The safer specification-aligned treatment is therefore: all race codes blank → field 2.30 equals Y.
What commonly produces SINF0046
| What you find | Likely cause | Durable correction |
|---|---|---|
A race code exists; Missing equals Y | The missing flag remained from an earlier incomplete record or extract default. | Verify the selection and set field 2.30 to N or blank. |
All race codes blank; Missing is blank or N | The response was omitted without identifying the data as missing. | Locate the authorized response; if none is available, keep codes blank and set field 2.30 to Y. |
| Race 1 blank; Race 2 or later populated | The SIS stores selections in checkboxes but the extract preserved their original slot numbers. | Compress reported selections into consecutive SINF positions beginning with field 2.25. |
| Only “multiracial” or “other” appears locally | A local summary label was submitted instead of the underlying selected categories. | Return to the original response and map each supported race to a current CALPADS code. |
Race was blanked because field 2.23 equals Y | The two-part collection was mistakenly treated as an either/or choice. | Restore the independently reported race selection(s); do not derive them from ethnicity. |
| SIS is correct; file positions differ | Null handling, deduplication, or column mapping reordered or omitted codes. | Repair the extract and test one-, two-, and multiple-race records. |
Preserve multiple selections without inventing priority
Race 1–5 are storage positions for the supported responses. Do not interpret “Race 1” as the student’s primary, dominant, or preferred race unless an authoritative CALPADS rule explicitly establishes such meaning. The operational requirement here is that the populated positions begin with Race 1 and accurately retain the respondent’s selections.
Recommended correction path
Preserve the rejected row
Capture SSID, SINF effective dates, all five race fields, and field 2.30.
Confirm SENR ownership
Verify the accurate supporting enrollment is posted for the student and SINF effective period.
Return to the original response
Use the enrollment form or other authorized self-/family-reported source. Do not infer race from name, appearance, language, nationality, birthplace, or ethnicity.
Keep ethnicity separate
Review field 2.23 independently. Regardless of its value, preserve every supported race selection.
Build the race sequence
Place the first supported race in field 2.25 and additional selections consecutively in fields 2.26–2.29.
Set missingness accurately
If any race is reported, field 2.30 is
Nor blank. If all five are blank because no response is available, field 2.30 isY.Correct the SIS and extract
Repair source storage, checkbox crosswalks, sequence compression, null conversion, and default missing flags.
Resubmit and verify history
Confirm SINF0046 clears and the intended effective-dated demographic record retains all supported selections.
Audit the population
Find other records with missing/selection contradictions, gaps before Race 1, or locally summarized “multiracial” values.
Before closing the issue
- Confirm every race code came from authorized respondent information.
- Ensure populated positions begin with Race 1 and continue without gaps.
- Verify any populated race makes the Missing Indicator
Nor blank. - Verify all five race fields blank makes the Missing Indicator
Y. - Keep race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity as separate responses under the current SINF specification.
- Ensure the SIS and next SINF extract reproduce the accepted record.
Official CALPADS SINF0046 page | CALPADS Student Information guidance | U.S. Department of Education SPD 15 transition