School Psychology And Social Justice In The Global Community

An international perspective in psychology, and specifically school psychology, has a long history. The American Psychological Association's (APA) Committee on International Relations in Psychology (CIRP) was first established in 1944 ¹ and the International School Psychology Committee (ISPC), predecessor of International School Psychology Association (ISPA), was established in the 1970s. ² The focus of international efforts in psychology has changed over the past 70 years. The initial purpose of the CIRP was to assist the European psychological community, following World War II, with the reestablishment of laboratories and libraries. ISPC was established for the purpose of facilitating collaboration among school and educational psychologists worldwide. Currently, the international focus in both organizations encompasses aspects of psychology research, practice, training, global outreach, and policy. Furthermore, the global perspective in American psychology has encompassed school psychology through activities within the School Psychology Division of APA (Division 16) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).