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SESIR Codes & Definitions

Codes and Definitions

NOTE: This page reflects changes to Rule 6A-1.0017 that were approved by the State Board of Education in April and July, 2023. 

The following SESIR definitions were approved by the State Board of Education (Rule 6A-1.0017) to enable school districts to correctly code data used to report incidents that are against the law or represent serious breaches of the code of student conduct. This includes those incidents considered severe enough to require the involvement of a School Resource Officer (SRO) or incidents to be "Reported to Law Enforcement." The following definitions are not intended to be an additional reporting system for law enforcement. SESIR incidents can involve students (including out-of-district students), non-students, school personnel, and/or unknown perpetrators.

For more information about SESIR, including Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the About SESIR page. Online training can be found at SESIR.org.

*Alcohol (ALC) - Level IV
(possession, use, or sale) Possession, sale, purchase, distribution, or use of alcoholic beverages. Use means the person is caught in the act of using, admits to use or is discovered to have used in the course of an investigation. Alcohol incidents cannot be Drug-related.

*Aggravated Battery (BAT) - Level I
(intentional great bodily harm) A battery where the attacker intentionally or knowingly causes more serious injury as defined in Rule 6A-1.0017(8)(g), such as: great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement; uses a deadly weapon; or, where the attacker knew or should have known the victim was pregnant.

*Arson (ARS)- Level I
(intentionally setting a fire on school property) To intentionally damage or cause to be damaged, by fire or explosion, any dwelling, structure, or conveyance, whether occupied or not, or its contents. Fires that are not intentional, that are caused by accident, or do not cause damage are not required to be reported in SESIR.

Bullying (BUL) - Level IV
(intimidating behaviors that are repeated, intentional, and involve a power imbalance) Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. Bullying includes instances of cyberbullying, as defined in Section 1006.147(3)(b), F.S. Bullying may include, but is not limited to, repetitive instances of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, harassment, public or private humiliation, or destruction of property. If the physical harm or psychological distress is not the result of systematic or chronic behavior, evaluate for Harassment.

*Burglary (BRK) - Level II
(illegal entry into a facility) Unlawful entry into or remaining in a dwelling, structure, or conveyance with the intent to commit a crime therein.

*Criminal Mischief (VAN) - Level III
(destruction, damage, or defacement of school or personal property) ($1,000 threshold) Willfully and maliciously injuring or damaging by any means any real or personal property belonging to another, including, but not limited to, the placement of graffiti thereon or other acts of vandalism thereto. Incidents that fall below the $1,000 threshold are not reportable in SESIR, but instead should be reported as locally-defined incidents according to district policies.

*Disruption on Campus-Major (DOC) - Level III
(major disruption of all or a significant portion of campus activities, school-sponsored events, and school bus transportation) Disruptive behavior that poses a serious threat to the learning environment, health, safety, or welfare of others. Examples of major disruptions include bomb threats, inciting a riot, or initiating a false fire alarm.

*Drug Sale/Distribution Excluding Alcohol (DRD) - Level II
(illegal sale or distribution of drugs) The manufacture, cultivation, purchase, sale, or distribution of any drug, narcotic, controlled substance or substance represented to be a drug, narcotic, or controlled substance.

*Drug Use/Possession Excluding Alcohol (DRU) - Level III
(illegal drug possession or use) The use or possession of any drug, narcotic, controlled substance, or any substance when used for chemical intoxication. Use means the person is caught in the act of using, admits to use or is discovered to have used in the course of an investigation.

*Fighting (FIT) - Level III
(mutual combat, mutual altercation) When two or more persons mutually participate in use of force or physical violence that requires either physical intervention or results in injury requiring first aid or medical attention. Lower-level fights, including pushing, shoving, or altercations that stop on verbal command are not required to be reported in SESIR.

*Grand Theft (STL) - Level III
(taking of property from a person, building, or a vehicle) ($750 threshold) The unauthorized taking of the property of another person or organization, including motor vehicles, valued at $750 or more, without threat, violence, or bodily harm. Incidents that fall below the $750 threshold are not reportable in SESIR, but instead should be reported as locally-defined incidents according to district policies. Thefts of property of any value that involve a use of force, violence, assault, or putting the victim in fear must be reported as Robbery.

Harassment (HAR) - Level IV
Any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct that places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits, or has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school including any course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such a person and serves no legitimate purpose. Instances of Harassment that are chronic or repeated in nature should be evaluated for Bullying or Bullying-related.

*Hazing (HAZ) - Level III
Any action or situation that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student at a school with any of grades 6 through 12 for purposes of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any school-sanctioned organization. "Hazing" includes, but is not limited to: (a) pressuring, coercing, or forcing a student to participate in illegal or dangerous behavior, or (b) any brutality of a physical nature, such as whipping, beating, branding, or exposure to the elements.

*Homicide (HOM) - Level I
(murder, manslaughter) The unjustified killing of one human being by another.

*Kidnapping (KID) - Level I
(abduction of an individual) Forcibly, secretly, or by threat, confining, abducting, or imprisoning another person against his/her will and without lawful authority.

*Other Major (OMC) - Level III
(major incidents that do not fit within the other definitions) Any serious, harmful incident resulting in the need for law enforcement consultation not previously classified. This includes any drug or weapon found unattended and not linked to any individual; such incidents must be coded with the appropriate Related element (such as Drug-related or Weapon-related) and incident involvement must be reported as unknown.

*Robbery (ROB) - Level II
(using force to take something from another) The taking or attempted taking of money or other property from the person or custody of another with the intent to permanently or temporarily deprive the person or owner of the money or other property under the confrontational circumstances of force, or threat of force or violence, and/or by putting the victim in fear. A key difference in Grand Theft and Robbery is that Robbery involves violence, a threat of violence or assault, and putting the victim in fear.

*Sexual Assault (SXA) - Level II
An incident that includes fondling, indecent liberties, child molestation, or threatened rape. Both males and females can be victims of sexual assault.

*Sexual Battery (Rape) (SXB) - Level I
(attempted or actual) Forced or attempted oral, anal, or vaginal penetration by using a sexual organ or an object simulating a sexual organ, or the anal or vaginal penetration of another by any body part or foreign object. Both males and females can be victims of sexual battery.

Sexual Harassment (SXH) - Level III
(undesired sexual behavior) Unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, such as sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Harassing conduct can include verbal or nonverbal actions, including graphic and written statements, and may include statements made through computers, cellphones, and other devices connected to the Internet. The conduct can be carried out by school employees, other students, and non-employee third parties.

*Sexual Offenses (Other) (SXO) - Level III
(lewdness, indecent exposure) Other sexual contact, including intercourse, without force or threat of force. Subjecting an individual to lewd sexual gestures, sexual activity, or exposing private body parts in a lewd manner. (Law enforcement must be notified to investigate.)

*Simple Battery (PHA) - Level II
An actual and intentional touching or striking of another person against his or her will, or the intentional causing of bodily harm to an individual.

*Threat/Intimidation (TRE) - Level III
(instilling fear in others) An incident where there was no physical contact between the offender and victim, but the victim reasonably believed that physical harm could have occurred based on verbal or nonverbal communication by the offender. This includes nonverbal threats and verbal threats of physical harm which are made in person, electronically or through any other means.

Tobacco (TBC) - Level IV
(cigarettes or other forms of tobacco/nicotine) The possession, sale, purchase, distribution, or use of tobacco or nicotine products on school grounds, at school-sponsored events, or on school transportation by any person under the age of 21. Tobacco incidents cannot be Drug-related.

*Trespassing (TRS) - Level III
(illegal entry onto campus) To enter or remain on school grounds/campus, school transportation, or at a school-sponsored event/off campus, without authorization or invitation and with no lawful purpose for entry. Only incidents involving a student currently under suspension or expulsion, or incidents where any offender (student or non-student) was previously issued an official trespass warning by school officials, or where any offender was arrested for trespass are required to be reported in SESIR. Trespass incidents that did not have a prior official warning, did not result in arrest, or did not involve students under suspension or expulsion should be reported as locally defined incidents according to district policies.

*Weapons Possession (WPO) - Level II
(possession of firearms and other instruments which can cause harm) Possession of a firearm or any instrument or object as defined by Section 790.001, F.S., that can inflict serious harm on another person or that can place a person in reasonable fear of serious harm.

Reporting Guidelines

Reported to Law Enforcement

Incidents marked with a red asterisk (*) must be reported to a law enforcement officer because those are considered criminal offenses. "Law enforcement action” is the official action taken by a School Resource Officer (SRO) or local law enforcement officer in response to a SESIR incident, including but not limited to: an arrest, referral to a civil citation or similar prearrest diversion program authorized by Section 985.12, F.S., or initiation of an involuntary examination authorized by Section 394.463, F.S.

Related Elements:

For each SESIR incident, applicable "Related Elements" must also be reported to SESIR.

School districts must report a SESIR incidents to law enforcement if the incident includes one or more of the following related elements marked with a red asterisk (*):

Definitions for all Related Elements may be found in the current SESIR Definitions and Guidelines, and the DOE Information Data Base Requirements, Automated Student Information System, Automated Student Data Elements. Every Weapon Possession incident must be coded as Weapon-Related and must include the "Weapon, Description (PDF)” data element.

Levels I - IV = Preliminary Rank Ordering of Incident Types for School Reporting

(Level I Incidents are the Most Serious, and Level IV Incidents are the Least Serious). General Rule: When multiple incidents occur at the same time and place, code the incident that is the most serious incident. The incident that caused the most injury or the highest loss of property or monetary cost should be the one reported. The particular context of the incidents should also be considered when determining the level of seriousness. If school personnel determine that an incident ranked at a lower level is more serious than another incident which is ranked higher according to this guide, school personnel should report the incident they judge to be more serious. Any Related Elements that apply must also be reported.

Reporting Requirements for Violent Incidents

The U.S. Department of Education (US ED) has mandated reporting requirements for SESIR which include reporting of "Violent Incidents with Physical Injury" and "Violent Incidents without Physical Injury." SESIR has identified "Violent Incidents" as Kidnapping, Homicide, Aggravated Battery, and Sexual Battery. "Violent Incidents if they Result in Bodily Injury" are Arson, Bullying, Burglary, Disruption on Campus-Major, Fighting, Harassment, Hazing, Other Major Offenses, Simple Battery, Robbery, and Sexual Harassment.

When reporting any of the above violent SESIR incidents, districts must also complete the "Injury-Related" element. The "Injury-Related" element is broken down into three separate codes: More Serious, Less Serious, or No Serious Bodily Injury. This allows DOE to meet US ED reporting requirements. For more information, please refer to the current SESIR Definitions and Guidelines, and Appendix P, Definitions for Incident Reporting.

Disciplinary Actions for SESIR Incidents (PDF)

The following disciplinary actions are the only actions that should be reported for SESIR incidents. (C) Corporal Punishment; (I) In-School Suspension; (O) Out-of-School Suspension; (H) Suspension Extended, Pending Hearing; (E) Expulsion without Services; (F) Expulsion with Services; (P) Alternative Placement; (U) Change in Placement (not to exceed 45 days) following a drug, weapon, or serious bodily injury offense for students with disabilities only, (S) Other SESIR Defined, (N) No Discipline for students who are very young or who have significant cognitive disability; (M) Mechanical Restraint, (R) Physical Restraint and (L) Seclusion. These disciplinary actions may also be used for less serious local incidents with the exception of (S) Other SESIR Defined and (U) Change in Placement. Note: Districts are reminded to update code (H) Suspension Extended, Pending Hearing to (E), (F), or (P) for Survey 5 (based on the final outcome of the School Board Hearing).

Contact:

Office of Safe Schools
325 West Gaines Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
Phone: 850-245-5173