T-SNAPT-SNAP Working with Working with

You and for YouYou and for YouTexas Assessment ConferenceTexas Assessment Conference

December 2008December 2008

What is T-SNAP?What is T-SNAP?

As stated in the constitution of the Texas As stated in the constitution of the Texas Statewide Network of Assessment Statewide Network of Assessment Professionals, we are an organization whose Professionals, we are an organization whose purpose is topurpose is to– Share information about testing in educational Share information about testing in educational

settingssettings– Encourage the appropriate use of testingEncourage the appropriate use of testing– Improve the applications of measurement to students Improve the applications of measurement to students

and educational programsand educational programs– Encourage research in the area of elementary and Encourage research in the area of elementary and

secondary school testing and measurementsecondary school testing and measurement

What T-SNAP Offers Its MembersWhat T-SNAP Offers Its Members

Opportunities for training through Opportunities for training through coordinator academiescoordinator academiesDiscussion of important topics through Discussion of important topics through TETN sessions held in collaboration with TETN sessions held in collaboration with TEA and PearsonTEA and PearsonNotification of events and critical Notification of events and critical information through web site postings and information through web site postings and e-mail broadcastse-mail broadcastsRepresentation in the planning and Representation in the planning and conducting of the Texas Assessment conducting of the Texas Assessment ConferenceConference

AcademiesAcademies

New District Testing Coordinator AcademyNew District Testing Coordinator Academy– Held in Austin each fallHeld in Austin each fall– Specifically geared to district coordinators Specifically geared to district coordinators

with no experience to one year of experiencewith no experience to one year of experience– A full day of training provided by T-SNAP A full day of training provided by T-SNAP

members, TEA staff, and Pearson staffmembers, TEA staff, and Pearson staff– Opportunities for networking and sharing with Opportunities for networking and sharing with

job-alike professionalsjob-alike professionals

AcademiesAcademies

Not-So-New District Testing Coordinator Not-So-New District Testing Coordinator AcademyAcademy– Held in Austin each fallHeld in Austin each fall– Specifically geared to district coordinators Specifically geared to district coordinators

with two to five years of experiencewith two to five years of experience– A full day of training provided by T-SNAP A full day of training provided by T-SNAP

members, TEA staff, and Pearson staff with a members, TEA staff, and Pearson staff with a slant on reporting and accountabilityslant on reporting and accountability

– Opportunities for networking and sharing with Opportunities for networking and sharing with job-alike professionalsjob-alike professionals

TETNsTETNs

Texas Education Telecommunication Texas Education Telecommunication Network SessionsNetwork Sessions– Opportunities for testing coordinators to hear Opportunities for testing coordinators to hear

updates from TEA and Pearson and to ask updates from TEA and Pearson and to ask questions pertaining to all aspects of the questions pertaining to all aspects of the assessment programassessment program

– Participation available at all twenty Education Participation available at all twenty Education Service Centers and at numerous satellite Service Centers and at numerous satellite locationslocations

Web SiteWeb Site

www.tsnap.orgwww.tsnap.org– A source for information about T-SNAPA source for information about T-SNAP– Access to conference handoutsAccess to conference handouts– Links to TEA materials and notificationsLinks to TEA materials and notifications– Alerts regarding TETNs and other eventsAlerts regarding TETNs and other events– Links to regional group web sites Links to regional group web sites

Assessment ConferenceAssessment Conference

T-SNAP participation in the Texas T-SNAP participation in the Texas Assessment ConferenceAssessment Conference– Members of T-SNAP serve on the planning Members of T-SNAP serve on the planning

committee.committee.– Numerous members present preconference Numerous members present preconference

and concurrent sessions.and concurrent sessions.– The annual business meeting is conducted The annual business meeting is conducted

during the T-SNAP breakfast.during the T-SNAP breakfast.

Regional GroupsRegional GroupsRegional groups affiliated with T-SNAPRegional groups affiliated with T-SNAP– BRATS – Bayou Regional Area Test Supervisors BRATS – Bayou Regional Area Test Supervisors

(Houston Area)(Houston Area)– CATS – Capital Area Testing Supervisors (Austin CATS – Capital Area Testing Supervisors (Austin

Area)Area)– DRATS – Desert Region Area Testing Supervisors (El DRATS – Desert Region Area Testing Supervisors (El

Paso Area)Paso Area)– MATS – Metroplex Area Testing Supervisors (Dallas MATS – Metroplex Area Testing Supervisors (Dallas

and Fort Worth Area)and Fort Worth Area)– NEATS – North Eastern Area Testing Supervisors NEATS – North Eastern Area Testing Supervisors

(ESC Regions 7 and 8)(ESC Regions 7 and 8)– RATS – Regional Association of Testing Supervisors RATS – Regional Association of Testing Supervisors

(San Antonio Area)(San Antonio Area)

CollaborationsCollaborations

Throughout the year, T-SNAP Throughout the year, T-SNAP representatives have the opportunity to representatives have the opportunity to communicate with and collaborate with communicate with and collaborate with TEA and Pearson staff in planning and TEA and Pearson staff in planning and preparing for the academies, TETNs, and preparing for the academies, TETNs, and Texas Assessment Conference. Texas Assessment Conference. Members also enjoy opportunities to Members also enjoy opportunities to collaborate with each other at T-SNAP collaborate with each other at T-SNAP sponsored events and through regional sponsored events and through regional group meetings.group meetings.

MembershipMembershipAnnual dues for T-SNAP are $25.00 and provide Annual dues for T-SNAP are $25.00 and provide membership from December 1 to November 30.membership from December 1 to November 30.– Dues cover expenses associated with the academies, the Dues cover expenses associated with the academies, the

assessment conference, the web site, mailings, and assessment conference, the web site, mailings, and member gifts. member gifts.

You can join at the conference by going to the T-You can join at the conference by going to the T-SNAP booth or by sending payment to: SNAP booth or by sending payment to:

TSNAPTSNAPC/O Joe Garrison, TreasurerC/O Joe Garrison, TreasurerPO Box 7733PO Box 7733Tyler, Texas 75711Tyler, Texas 75711