CISS

INFORMATION
SESSION- TAG
ELIGIBILITY
By: Shanovia Daniel, Marcela Crowe, Laurie Powell,
and Missy Rankin
WHAT IS CISS?
CISS stands for Characteristics Instrument for Screening Students
CISS is Fulton Countys instrument for screening students who may
be eligible for the TAG (Talented and Gifted) program
Teachers will work on identifying students that demonstrate any of
the following 10 characteristics (students do not need to fall in all
categories)
Motivation
Interests
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Ability
Memory
Inquiry
Insight
Reasoning
Creativity
DETAILS OF CISS PROCESS:
The screening process takes place for the entire school
over a 10 day period in January
This is 1 of 2 full school screenings that take place
throughout the school year. The other one is in the fall
using test data.
Students need to meet 5 out of the 10 characteristics.
These may come from any teacher.
(For example: Daniel may see 2 characteristics, Rankin
may see 1 characteristic, Crowe may see 1
characteristic, and Powell may see another
characteristic totaling 5 different characteristics)
Every teacher in the building participates in the CISS
process!
 MOTIVATION INTERESTS COMMUNICATION PROBLEM- MEMORY
SKILLS SOLVING ABILITY
10 Characteristics of the CISS Screening
Evidences an intense desire Intense (unusual interests) Highly expressive and Effective, inventive Large storehouse of
to achieve Activities, avocations, effective use of words, strategies for recognizing information
Strives to satisfy a need or objects, etc. have special numbers, or symbols and solving problems Innate ability to retain and
attain set goals worth or significance retrieve information
Student may Student may Student may Student may Student may
be persistent in demonstrate unusual demonstrate unusual devise or adapt a need only 1-2
pursuing/completing or advanced interests ability to communicate systematic strategy for repetitions for mastery
self-selected tasks in a topic or activity (verbally, physically, solving problems or have a wealth of
be a self-starter be beyond age-group artistically, change the strategy if information
be an enthusiastic pursue an activity symbolically) it is not working pay attention to details
learner unceasingly use particularly clever create a new design, manipulate information
aspire to be demonstrate examples, illustrations invent remember experiences
somebody/do perseverance in or elaborations understand what from the past (e.g.,
something pursuit of an interest questions to ask to When I was one)
solve the problem
INQUIRY INSIGHT REASONING CREATIVITY HUMOR
Questions, experiments, Quickly grasps new Logical approaches to Inventiveness Conveys and picks up on
explores concepts and makes figuring out solutions Problem-solving through humor
Seeks in-depth knowledge, connections Forward-looking, goal non-traditional patterns of Ability to synthesize key
understanding, or Sudden discovery of the oriented thought. thinking ideas or problems in
information correct solution following complex situations in
incorrect attempts humorous ways
Student may Student may Student may Student may Student may
ask unusual questions demonstrate make generalizations show ingenuity in exhibit keen sense of
for age exceptional ability to use metaphors and using everyday humorgentle or
play around with ideas draw inferences analogies materials hostile
Process

demonstrate extensive appear to be a good think things through exhibit wild, seemingly see relationships and
exploratory behaviors guesser logically silly ideas create jokes or puns
be keen observer think critically produces ideas extreme sense of
possess capacity for be an excellent planner fluently/flexibly fairness
seeing unusual and be curious sensitive to feelings of
diverse relationships others
integrate ideas and use inappropriate
disciplines humor (class clown)
HOW MIGHT THESE CHARACTERISTICS LOOK
IN THE CLASSROOM?

HTTPS://
WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=B210JXNP
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 STUDENT ELIGIBILITY:
A grade level representative will collect all CISS forms and submit
names of students who are not in TAG that have demonstrated 5
out of the 10 characteristics to Eligibility Team Chair
The eligibility team chair will divide the list of students among
eligibility team members.
The eligibility team members will gather supporting information
on assigned students.
The team members will check student data to see which students
meet the criteria.
Students are only eligible to be tested for TAG every 2 years.
Any test score used to establish eligibility shall be current within
2 years of the date of the eligibility team meeting.
RESOURCES:
Fulton County TAG Manual
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B210JXnpZ
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