The American Psychological Association (APA) is an organization dedicated to advancing the field of psychology and using psychology to contribute to a wide range of issues facing society. APA was founded in 1892 when psychology was just developing as a discipline, primarily as an outgrowth of philosophy. This entry discusses the activities and structure of APA and how it has contributed to the field of education, in particular, through its education directorate and collaborations with other organizations.

[Page 1699]APA has grown from 31 members at its founding to over 117,300 members in 2017. APA members include psychology researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students who span 54 different divisions of psychology. APA is divided into four directorates that each focus on a topic critical to APA’s strategic ...