About CASP

About School Psychology

• What School Psychologists Do
• School Psychology Infographic

History of the Association

Founded in 1953 and located in Sacramento, the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) is the statewide membership organization for school psychologists in California. With a membership more than 1,900, CASP is the largest statewide organization of school psychologists in the nation and the strongest voice for psychologists practicing in California’s schools. In addition to providing liaison with various state boards and commissions, CASP actively represents the profession to legislative audiences, governmental officials, and other policy-making bodies. The Association provides continuing professional development to the membership through regional training programs and an annual convention. Publications of the Association include quarterly newsletter and a quarterly, peer-reviewed research journal.

The CASP membership is comprised of individuals who work in school districts, and in private practice throughout the state, helping school personnel–teachers, administrators, and counselors–support student education and solve related learning, social, and adjustment problems. Working, also, with parents of students, school psychologists link homes, classrooms, and school systems to promote the mental health, learning, and welfare of California’s children and youth.

The Association’s governance structure is reflected in a 15-member Executive Board and an appointed slate of committee chairs and members who, together, complete the Board of Directors. The Executive Board is charged with policy-making for the organization and takes input and recommendations from committee chairs and the executive director in this regard. The work of the Association is carried out through the efforts of staff and volunteers, coordinated on a daily basis by the Executive Director.

Landmark Events in the History of CASP

• 1950 – First Conference of Psychologists and Psychometrists, sponsored by the California Department of Education and College of the Pacific
• 1953 – First California Association of School Psychologists and Psychometrists (CASPP) committees established; inaugural issue of the newsletter
• 1963 – First affiliate established in Orange County
• 1967 – Statewide office established in Burlingame, California
• 1968 – CASPP representatives meet with Ohio School Psychologists Association to discuss a new national school psychologist association; first staff member, Sandra Goff, hired
• 1969 – CASPP Code of Ethics established
• 1971 – NASP/CASPP Joint Conference
• 1975 – Outstanding School Psychologist award established
• 1979 – NASP/CASPP Joint Conference
• 1980 – Sandra Goff award established
• 1983 – CASPP becomes CASP
• 1985 – CASP band, the “Severe Discrepancies” play the Convention
• 1989 – J. Richard Russo, CASP executive director for 14 years retires; Dr. Joe Platow replaces him
• 1991 – CASP Membership reaches 2200
• 1994 – First non-school psychologist executive director hired, Chris Otis
• 1996 – Membership tops 2600
• 1997 – NASP/CASP Partnership Convention
• 1998 – California School Psychology Foundation established
• 1999 – Second non-school psychologist executive director hired, Suzanne Fisher; Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program established in Functional Analysis and Behavior Intervention
• 2001 – Corporate membership program established
• 2003 – Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program in School Crisis Prevention,
  Response and Intervention is established. This program was the basis for the National Association of School Psychologists’ PREPaRE program.
• 2007 – CASP launches its third Certified Advanced Training Certificate Program, this one
  on English Language Learners and Bilingual Assessment. In addition, CASP, in partnership with the Association of California School Administrators, launches the RTI Project, a full range of training and consultation services in the area of RtI training, program development, and program assessment a webinar and live workshop series, for individuals, school districts and county offices of education
• 2009 – CASP moves from K Street in Sacramento, to 12th Street, still in Sacramento.
• 2012 – CASP moves annual convention from Spring to Fall, continues with a smaller
  conference each spring.
• 2013 – Third non-school psychologist executive director hired; Heidi Holmblad.