Recent History

Following the legacy of JSP Inc and the founding of SSSP in 1993, SSSP has experienced a period of increasing initiatives and organizational stability. SSSP continues to own JSP, and royalties from the journal fund major activities and contribute to the Society’s endowment. SSSP has developed several activities to contribute to school psychology research and scholarship and to increase SSSP’s visibility and joint activities with other organizations. These activities include the following since 2000:

  • Joint sponsorship, along with other school psychology organizations, of the 2002 Conference on the Future of School Psychology and the 2012 Future of School Psychology Update Conference, as well as continued involvement in the implementation following the 2012 Futures Conference.

  • Development of the School Psychology Research and Collaboration Conference (SPRCC), which is implemented every 2 years by SSSP, with co-sponsorship from other school psychology organizations and publishers as available. The conference has been held in 2003 (NASP Convention Toronto), 2005 (APA Convention, Washington DC), 2007 (NASP Convention, New York City), 2009 (APA Convention, Toronto), 2011 (NASP Convention, San Francisco), 2013 (APA Convention, Honolulu), 2015 (NASP Convention, Orlando), 2017 (APA Convention, Washington, DC), 2019 (NASP Convention, Chicago, IL), 2022 (NASP Convention, Boston), 2024 (NASP Convention, New Orleans), and 2026 (NASP Convention, Chicago). Its purpose is to support the research activities of early-career school psychologists.

  • Continuing participation with other school psychology organizations on the School Psychology Leadership Roundtable, School Psychology Specialty Council, and other joint groups in school psychology.

  • Continuing participation with other school psychology efforts, including the NASP Graduate Education Workgroup.

  • In 2004, the SSSP grant program was enhanced to become the Early Career Research Awards program, targeted for beginning researchers and scholars. In 2012, the upper limit for these awards was increased to $20,000. 

  • Approval of revisions to the by-laws in 2007 (changes to reflect use of email for communicating with members; addition of a membership meeting at the NASP convention each year; beginning of officer terms on January 1, to be consistent with fiscal year; require that “cash and cash equivalent funds” be federally insured, instead of “all funds,” etc.) and 2008 (changes to the President-Elect, President, and Past-President terms of office from 2 years each to one year each). In 2009, sponsored three sessions of the SSSP Research Development Presentation Series at the NASP convention in Boston, with sessions planned for the 2010 NASP convention in Chicago. Research sessions have been continued through 2014, with only one approved by NASP for 2015.  The Research Development Presentation Series was discontinued in 2021.

  • In 2010, initiation of the Dissertation Grant Awards. The purpose of the Society of School Psychology Dissertation Grant Awards is to promote excellence in research training in school psychology, thereby enhancing students' capacity to pursue productive research careers that advance the science of school psychology. Although not all quality proposals submitted can be funded, each student will receive feedback intended to contribute to the student’s enthusiasm for and competence in research. Please note that it is SSSP’s policy that no indirect costs (IDC) will be allocated for Dissertation Grant Awards.

  • In 2013, initiation of the Early Career Forum (ECF).  The ECF exists to disseminate information to early-career scholars concerning matters related to their success as academicians and scientists, and to provide an online community for early-career scholars to support one another, exchange ideas, and develop and nurture collaborations. “Early career scholars” are considered as those individuals who aim to embark on a research career or have begun a research career in a research center, university, or state or local agency. This includes graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and pre-tenured faculty in school psychology.

  • In 2010, initiation of the position of Director for Research and Scientific Practice (ex officio to the Board). The purpose of this position was to initiate, organize, and coordinate the various research activities and functions of SSSP. The Director for Research and Scientific Practice is charged with advancing in a proactive way the research mission of SSSP through the specification of a comprehensive research-oriented program that is responsive to the needs of both producers and consumers of school psychological research. 

  • In 2016, initiation of the position of Director of Operations (ex officio to the Board).  This position was created in response to operations responsibilities becoming more numerous and demanding.  The Director of Operations has the primary responsibility for assisting the Board in carrying out their duties efficiently and in a timely manner to ensure the Society's goals are met. 

  • In 2019, SSSP approved a Document Retention Policy, which was added to the SSSP website. In addition, diversity and inclusion of individuals from historically underrepresented groups were emphasized in the SSSP Membership Committee procedures.

  • In 2020, the Task Force on the Further Diversification of the SSSP was initiated. In 2021, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee was initiated. In 2021, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research Award was initiated. In 2022, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Dissertation Award was initiated.

  • In 2018, the membership categories of the Bylaws were expanded to include Life Member, Active, Emeritus, and Former Members, Deceased. In 2024, in recognition that a greater number of nominations were being submitted to SSSP, (b) some nominees were not being selected due to the membership cap, and (c) membership numbers were approaching the cap, a Membership Workgroup was established to examine these issues. Members who had not served on a committee in 5 years were sent an email, asking if they would like to move to emeritus status.  

  • In 2025, following a vote by membership, a section was added to the bylaws defining SSSP service, increasing the membership cap to 200, and allowing members who have not provided service to the organization in five years to be moved to emeritus status if, following an email to them they either fail to respond to the email or are unwilling to provide service to SSSP the following year. Members who met these criteria were all formally moved to emeritus status on May 1st of 2026. With this movement of members from active to emeritus status, total SSSP members on May 1st 2026 was 119.  A total of 34 members were moved from active to emeritus status during 2025 and 2026.  In 2026, the process and criteria for selecting new members were significantly revised to (a) require submission of an application via a web portal, (b) recognize excellence in research, service, and mentorship supporting the science of school psychologists, and (c) enhance the diversification of scholars being inducted into the Society.