CONSTITUTION
AND BYLAWS
Approved by the General Assembly II Nyborg,
Denmark, July 29th, 2002.
Approved by ballot vote, November 15th, 2002.
ISPA CONSTITUTION
Article I: Name
The name of the Association shall be the International School Psychology
Association (ISPA).
Article II: Principal office
The principal office of the Association is stated in the Bylaws.
Article III: Duration
The Association shall exist in perpetuity.
Article IV: Purposes of the Association
1a. To promote the use of sound psychological principles within the context
of education internationally.
1b. To promote communication among professionals who are committed to the improvement
of the mental health of children
in the world's schools.
1c. To encourage the training and employment of school psychologists in countries
where there are none or too few.
1d. To promote the psychological rights of all children throughout the world.
1e. To initiate and promote cooperation with other organizations working for
purposes similar to those of ISPA in order to help children.
2. To condemn any discrimination of a racial, religious or sexual nature and
recommend its members conduct their professional life consistent with this principle.
Article V: Membership
Membership provisions are stated in the Bylaws.
Article VI: Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be composed of five members of the Association.
Procedures for electing or appointing members of the Executive Committee are
stated in the Bylaws.
Article VII: Officers
The officers of the Association shall be the President, the President-Elect,
the Immediate Past-President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The procedure
for their election and terms of office are stated in the Bylaws.
Article VIII: Dissolution of the Association and dedication of funds
1. All assets of the Association shall be permanently dedicated to the purposes
set forth in Article IV of the Constitution. No part of these funds shall be
distributed to members of the Association.
2. In the event of dissolution of the Association, any funds remaining after
payment of all debts shall be distributed to one or more international non-profit
organization that hold goals similar to those of ISPA. Such organizations will
be selected by the Executive Committee.
Article IX: Amendments to the Constitution
Articles of the Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of Association
members who return correctly marked ballots.
The Bylaws specify the process for amending the Constitution.
Article X: Amendments to the Bylaws
Bylaws of the Association shall be amended by majority vote of Association
members who return correctly marked ballots. The Bylaws specify the procedure
for amending the Bylaws.
ISPA
BYLAWS
Article I: Membership
1. Membership Categories
There shall be four categories of membership: Members, Honorary Life Members,
Students, and Associates.
Members are persons fully trained to function as school psychologists
in their own countries at institutions recognized by their national or state
authority. Members have voting rights and may stand for office in the Association.
Honorary Life Members enjoy the same privileges as Members, but do not
have to pay membership fees. The criteria and procedure for awarding Honorary
Life Membership are described in the Operations Handbook.
Students enrolled in school psychology programs are eligible for membership.
Students are not eligible to vote or hold office. Students applying for membership
in this category must submit evidence of their enrollment in a school psychology
program that is recognized in their country.
Associates are persons committed to the use of psychological services
in the schools. Associates are not eligible to vote or hold office.
2. Membership Dues and Contributions
Membership dues shall be determined by the General Assembly upon recommendation
from the Executive Committee. Annual dues for the calendar year are payable
before January 1st. Members' names may be dropped from the membership and mailing
lists after failing to pay dues for an entire calendar year. New members' dues
received after October 1st shall be applied to the following calendar year.
Article II: Newsletter
ISPA's newsletter shall be called World Go Round. It shall be published
four or more times a year, as circumstances and funds permit. Each person on
the membership list will be sent a copy of the newsletter.
Article III: Officers
1. All officers shall be members of the Association. Except for the President's
office, in the event an officer's position becomes vacant during the term of
office, the remaining Executive Committee shall appoint an acting officer to
fill that vacancy until the election of a new officer at the first following
formal election.
The President shall serve a two-year term of office, shall be responsible
for and conduct the business of the Association in coordination with the Executive
Secretary and the Central Office, shall represent the Association at all formal
functions or designate someone to represent the Association, and shall chair
the Executive Committee.
The President-Elect shall serve a two-year term of office and shall
serve as the President of the Association should the President be unable or
unwilling to function, and shall assume the office of the President at the end
of the President's term.
The Immediate Past President shall serve a two-year term of office and
shall serve as the President of the Association should the President and the
President-Elect be unable or unwilling to function. The Immediate Past President
shall chair the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and the Nominations and Elections
Committee.
The Treasurer shall serve a three-year term of office, be responsible
for the receipt and disbursement of funds as authorized by the Executive Committee,
prepare a proposal for the annual budget, and provide for an audit of funds.
The Secretary shall serve a three-year term of office, record and distribute
the minutes of the Executive Committee and General Assembly meetings, and officially
announce all meetings of the Association.
2. Officers of the Association may serve a maximum of six consecutive years
in one or more elected offices. They may be nominated and stand for office again
after not serving as an officer for three or more years.
3.
Elections of officers shall be held among all eligible members as defined in
the Operations Handbook. Call for nomination of officers is published in World
Go Round and on the ISPA website in March/April. Elections shall be carried
out by an ‘online’ ballot of members with an email address and by postal ballot
for those without an email address.
The Executive Secretary, under the supervision of the Nominations and Elections
Committee, shall be responsible for preparing the ballot, sending it to members,
and counting the ballots. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall notify
members of the result through World Go Round after first informing the candidates
personally of the results.
Article IV: The Executive Secretary
The Executive Committee is authorized to appoint an Executive Secretary.
Terms of employment shall be agreed to by the Executive Secretary and the majority
of the Executive Committee. The Executive Secretary shall be a member of the
Association. The Executive Secretary is responsible to the President.
Article V: Affiliated Organizations and Mission Partners
Organizations with purposes, missions and goals similar to those of ISPA
may become ISPA affiliates or ISPA mission partners.
There are two categories of affiliation:
Affiliate Organization. National, international and regional organizations
that have at least 30% of their members who are school psychologists are eligible
as Affiliate Organizations. The fee for affiliation shall be set by the Executive
Committee and found in the Operations Handbook. Affiliate Organizations shall
have one vote in the affairs of ISPA. The executive body of an Affiliate Organization
shall inform the ISPA Executive Secretary of the name of the member having the
authority to represent the Organization at the General Assembly. This shall
be done in writing and remain in effect until a written amendment is made.
Mission Partner. Organizations whose members are professionals working
in schools and/or education and do not meet the criteria for affiliate membership,
are eligible as Mission Partners, providing there is reasonable overlap between
their
mission statements, goals and ethical principles and those of ISPA. Details
regarding membership fees and procedures are described in the Operations Handbook.
Mission Partners do not have a vote in the affairs of ISPA.
Article VI: The Executive Committee
The members of the Executive Committee constitute the officers of the Association.
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation
of the Association. The Executive Committee can meet during the annual Colloquium,
and at other times deemed necessary. It can make decisions by a majority vote
of those present. Decisions may also be made via electronic communication.
Article VII: The General Assembly
The General Assembly is responsible for approving the policies and budget
of the Association. It is made up of the Executive Committee, Members, Honorary
Life Members, and representatives from Affiliate Organizations. The General
Assembly will
convene on one or more occasions during the Colloquium. The President will preside
at these meetings. Motions before the General Assembly are decided by a majority
vote of those present. Should a situation arise that may have serious consequences
for the Association at times when the General Assembly cannot be convened, the
President, with the concurrence of at least two other members of the Executive
Committee, may declare an emergency and submit a postal ballot to the membership.
The majority vote of those returning postal ballots shall be binding. A postal
ballot will be used to vote on policies and budgetary issues upon the approval
of at least three members of the Executive Committee or one-fourth of the voting
members present at
the General Assembly.
Article VIII: The Colloquium
1. The convention or annual meeting of the Association will be called a
Colloquium. It shall be held either every year or every other year, depending
upon a vote of the Executive Committee. The theme of each Colloquium shall be
of general interest to practicing school psychologists throughout the world.
2. The Colloquium Coordinator shall be appointed by the President. As chairperson
of the Colloquium Committee, he/she is responsible through the Executive Secretary
to help organize colloquia with the Local Organizing Committee.
Article IX: Committee Structure
Standing committees, ad hoc committees, task forces, and interest groups
shall assist the Executive Committee in conducting the work of the Association.
The Operations Handbook defines the roles and functions of the standing committees,
ad hoc committees, task forces, and interest groups.
Article X: Constitutional and Bylaw Changes
The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended only by postal ballot. A proposed
amendment shall be discussed at a General Assembly, and no later than 120 days
thereafter a postal ballot shall be held among all eligible members. The Executive
Secretary, under the supervision of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, shall
be responsible for preparing the ballot, sending it to members, and counting
the votes. The Executive Secretary shall notify the Constitution and Bylaws
Committee of the results in a timely fashion, and the Committee shall notify
the members of the results through World Go Round. The date upon which the changes
become effective will be indicated.
Article XI: Financial Support
ISPA accepts voluntary contributions from individuals, organizations, corporations,
and other entities. All contributions will be acknowledged by mail by the Executive
Secretary. Individuals, businesses, firms, industries, and other organizations
that contribute funds above a threshold amount established by the Executive
Committee shall be identified as Patrons. Their names shall be reported to the
General Assembly by the Treasurer.
Article XII: Principal Office
The street and e-mail address of the Association together with its telephone
and fax numbers shall appear on the Association’s letterhead and other official
documents and publications. The Executive Committee is authorized to determine
the location of the Association. The current address of the Association is:
ISPA Central Office, Hans Knudsens Plads 1A, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.