History of the future of proactive school psychology: Historical review at our 75th APA anniversary to transcend the past, excel in the present, and transform the future.

The purpose of this article was to historically review the field of school psychology for the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Division of School Psychology (DSP) of the APA. Past and present proactive school psychology was evaluated and recommendations for the future were offered in light of historic APA DSP goals. Since its inception, the DSP has worked with APA to protect and expand school psychology as a foundational service area within health service psychology. This article examines the challenges in the field, highlights current issues, and calls for a proactive and transformational future. The article concludes with suggestions from history to adopt current approaches to emulate the transformative vision of proactive school psychology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) <strong xmlns:lang="en">Impact and Implications—This article evaluated the history of proactive school psychology in light of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Division of School Psychology (DSP) of the APA, with the authors analyzing the birth of psychology as a science and as a profession. The contributions of Wundt as the first to begin a psychology laboratory, journal, and doctoral training program were discussed and Witmer is offered as the father of school and clinical psychology. APA unification via the formation of divisions was detailed and change was evaluated with a focus on transcending the past, excelling in the present, and transforming the future; school psychology's connection to education and current societal difficulties were reviewed including COVID-19. Recommendations to help school psychology become an agent of societal change were offered and the promise of school psychology was presented as a solution to facilitating societal growth and advancement via schools.