History of the Association
CASP History
“Founded in 1950 and headquartered in Sacramento, the California Association of School Psychologists (CASP) has and continues to be the largest and strongest voice for school psychologists in California.
In addition to liaising with various state boards and commissions, CASP actively represents the profession to legislative audiences, governmental officials, and other policy-making bodies. CASP also provides continuing professional development to its members and other licensed individuals through regional training programs, online webinars, and annual conferences. CASP’s publications include the quarterly newsletter, CASP Today, and the quarterly, peer-reviewed research journal, Contemporary School Psychology.
The CASP membership is made up of individuals who work in California school districts, or are in private practice as a Licensed Educational Psychologist, helping school personnel–teachers, administrators, and counselors–support student education and solve related learning, social, and adjustment difficulties. 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.
Our governance structure is reflected in a 15-member elected Board of Directors. The Board is the governing body for the association and is charged with policy-making. Several committees support the execution of CASP’s strategic plan and annual goals. A slate of appointed topical area Specialists and Liaisons to external organizations also provide support and input on programs and services. The day to day work is accomplished by a professional staff of five individuals led by an Executive Director.
To know where our association is headed, it’s important to know where we’ve been. While so much has changed in the past 75 years, our core values remain the same. We won’t rest until every one of California’s students’ mental, emotional, and academic needs is met.”
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
- 1951 – CASPP established in the Spring of 1951
- 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, ultimately leading the creation of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
- 1968 – First staff member, Sandra Goff, hired
- 1968 – The same week Senator Robert Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency, an anti-war protest broke out at the 1968 CASPP Convention. Several CASPP Board members faced the threat of arrest!
- 1985 – CASPP becomes CASP
- 1985 – CASP band, the “Severe Discrepancies” play the Convention
- 1994 – First non-school psychologist executive director hired, Chris Otis
- 1994 – CASP headquarters moves from Burlingame, CA to Sacramento, CA
- 1998 – California School Psychology Foundation 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.
- 2019 – Larry P. comes to Convention
- 2020 – Pivots to a remote and later hybrid work force in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic
- 2021 – Remakes the annual Spring Institute to a virtual platform
- 2023 – CASP introduced the annual “Summer Experience” intensive education program
- 2024 – CASP celebrated its 75th anniversary
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