A Microsoft Word version of this letter is available for download and PRINTING.

To:       The Administrator Addressed
Date:   March 31, 2008
Re:      Application for Fitness Assessment Data Submission

To fulfill the new state mandate to assess every student in grades 3-12 using the FITNESSGRAM software, each district will appoint either a single FITNESSGRAM Data Submitter for the District SQL Server software users or Campus-Level Data Submitters (one per campus) for the Small-Area Network and Stand Alone software users.  In most cases, the district is advised that these Data Submitters be from the technology staff, and not a physical education teacher, to ensure that the required data is exported from the FITNESSGRAM software and sent to the agency through the PFAI web application in TEASE (Texas Education Agency Secure Environment). The application to identify your FITNESSGRAM Data Submitter(s) for the Physical Fitness Assessment Initiative is available now.  To access the PFAI application, the appointed Data Submitter(s) must first apply through the TEASE.  Whether this individual has an existing TEASE account or is a first-time user, they must apply for access to the PFAI application. More information about PFAI and instructions for requesting access to the application can be found at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/health/PFAI.html.

Please note these important dates:

• Starting March 10, 2008
  System available for accessing the PFAI application through the TEASE online request system.

• Starting in April, each Regional Education Service Center will host three trainings (each of them the same) on how to apply to the TEASE application and how to export the FITNESSGRAM data to the Agency. 
• April 18th: 1-4 pm
• May 2nd: 9am-12pm
• May 5th:1pm-4pm
  
  
• May 1, 2008
  The PFAI application comes online. FITNESSGRAM data will be submitted to TEA using the PFAI online application.
  
  
• May 31, 2008
  FITNESSGRAM data is due.

Once the Data Submitter(s) complete their online request for access to the PFAI application, the Superintendent will review and approve it, and then submit the approval to TEA. The TEA application owner then reviews the request, and sends an email notification of approval or rejection. (It may take up to 10 days from the initial request to receive email confirmation.) Upon receiving email approval, the Data Submitter will be able to log onto the PFAI application with their TEASE user name and password.  The system to submit FITNESSGRAM data will not be available until May.  This is the first of several steps for completing this process.  More information will be forthcoming concerning the steps involved, including how to create the export file from the FITNESSGRAM software. 

Please guide your appointed Data Submitter to the instructions located on the PFAI page to request access at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/health/PFAI.html. If you or your staff needs assistance in choosing the role for the PFAI application, you may contact the TEA Health and Safety Division at marissa.rathbone@tea.state.tx.us or (512) 463-3064.

If you require technical assistance, please email computer.access@tea.state.tx.us.

Sincerely,

Robert Scott, Commissioner
Texas Education Agency