diff --git a/api/src/main/java/ca/bc/gov/educ/studentdatacollection/api/service/v1/ValidationRulesService.java b/api/src/main/java/ca/bc/gov/educ/studentdatacollection/api/service/v1/ValidationRulesService.java
index 91b67d735..296ed9e2a 100644
--- a/api/src/main/java/ca/bc/gov/educ/studentdatacollection/api/service/v1/ValidationRulesService.java
+++ b/api/src/main/java/ca/bc/gov/educ/studentdatacollection/api/service/v1/ValidationRulesService.java
@@ -154,6 +154,8 @@ public void setStudentYearsInEll(SdcSchoolCollectionStudentEntity student){
             log.debug("Student years in ELL found for SDC student {} :: is {}", student.getSdcSchoolCollectionStudentID(), yearsInEll);
             if(yearsInEll.isPresent()){
                 student.setYearsInEll(yearsInEll.get().getYearsInEll());
+            }else{
+                student.setYearsInEll(0);
             }
         }
     }