Issue 25.3

May 27, 2025

• Batch Submissions and Online Data Entry Open for 2024-25
• DIRS Reporting Requirements
• DIRS User Roles
• Deadlines
• Support
• Contacts

Batch Submissions and Online Data Entry Open for 2024-25

As of May 21, 2025, DIRS is open for online data entry and batch submissions.

Please work with your vendors to ensure they are following the most current batch specifications provided on the DIRS home page.

DIRS Reporting Requirements

Review the DIRS Reporting Requirements for a detailed description criteria to determine which incidents to report (see image below), as well as the schools and districts that are required to report.

Figure 1. DIRS Reporting Requirements - Incident Criteria

DIRS User Roles

DIRS User Roles

The three DIRS user roles listed below each have different access levels and responsibilities. A single user may have only one DIRS user role, but that user may have access to multiple schools.

• DIRS-Superintendent – each district or charter school must have at least one DIRS-Superintendent user, who has access to all of sites in the district and is responsible for completing the tasks listed below. DIRS-Superintendent users can also complete all DIRS-Principal and DIRS-DataEntry user tasks.
  • Review all reports to ensure complete and accurate data;
  • Verify that reported exclusions and expulsions are based on formal school board action(s); and
  • Certify the district data by July 31.
• DIRS-Principal – each site should have a DIRS-Principal user to complete all of the principal tasks listed below. DIRS-Principal access is granted at the school-level, but a single person can have DIRS-Principal access for multiple sites. DIRS-Superintendent users can complete all of the principal tasks, if the district determines that is appropriate.
  • Review and complete the School Information page;
  • Ensure all incidents for the school are complete or confirm there are no incidents to report; and
  • Review all incidents to confirm accuracy by June 30.
• DIRS-DataEntry – access is granted at the school-level and a single user can obtain access for multiple schools. Data entry users are responsible for the following tasks:
  • Enter incidents occurring during the reporting period prior to the principal review and superintendent certification;
  • Ensure data accurately represents the incident, which may require follow-up with staff who were involved in the incident; and
  • Reviewing submitted data for accuracy.

Refer to the Contacts section for user access assistance.

Figure 2. DIRS User Roles Access Levels and Tasks

Deadlines

• Principals must complete data entry and review for schools by June 30
• Superintendents must complete reports and certify district data by July 31

Support

Open Office Hours

View and register for upcoming sessions by visiting the MDE Calendar and selecting “DIRS” in the “View by Sponsor” field.

Resources

• DIRS data submissions – visit the DIRS home page to find announcements, memos, and documentation
  • DIRS Reporting Requirements – Identifies activities and consequences that must be submitted in DIRS, and the types of schools and districts that must submit them
  • DIRS User Guide – includes DIRS user roles and responsibilities, definitions, and step-by-step instructions
  • DIRS Incident and Offense Types – complete list of current DIRS incident and offense types
  • DIRS Batch Submissions Guide – batch file preparation and submission guidance for users and vendors, including instructions, processing details, and error resolution tips
  • Vendor and IT consultation and review – MDE’s DIRS Coordinator Carly Lykes is available to schedule one-on-one time with vendors or IT teams to review student discipline data submissions and reporting, DIRS technical requirements, or documentation
• Student Discipline page for educators – provides information about legal framework of school discipline and the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act (PFDA)
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Center – provides support to schools, districts, charters, school communities, and the agency at large for addressing systemic racism, bias, and inequities in educational systems
  • EDI Center 2023 Legislative Updates
  • Frequently Asked Questions about Nonexclusionary Discipline
• Division of Early Learning – is working to improve early childhood education by aligning policies, practices, and resources to create a seamless learning experience from birth to third grade, with the goal of ensuring all children have access to high-quality, inclusive education that sets them up for success.
  • Quick Guide: Early Childhood Suspension and Expulsion
  • The Successful Learner Equation (mn.gov)
• Special Education Division – provides guidance to districts on special education discipline reporting and tracking requirements; assists schools and districts in developing alternatives to suspension; and implementing evidence-based interventions to help reduce out-of-school suspensions.
  • Alternatives to Suspension
  • Coordinated Early Intervention Services (CEIS)

Contacts

• User access assistance
  • Authorization for school or district access: contact your district's Identified Official with Authority (IOwA)
  • Password and account set up
• Online DIRS processing and data entry technical assistance: Incident-Reporting@state.mn.us
• Reporting requirements, data elements, and data requests: Carly Lykes – 651-582-8683
• Vendor and IT consultation and review
• Batch submissions
  • Contact your student information system (SIS) vendor to resolve most errors, including invalid schemas, incorrect data formats, and missing data elements
  • Additional technical support for batch file processing: DIRS batch submission technical support

Manage Preferences  |  Unsubscribe  |  Help  |  website