The APA TOPSS Committee is committed to inclusion and respect for all. We value perspectives including but not limited to those shaped by race/ethnicity, culture, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability status, religion, socioeconomic background, national origin, language, and age. We also commit to addressing barriers to access and participation in secondary school psychology education. The work of the committee and the work of teachers are both enhanced by a wide range of experiences and perspectives. We seek to build appreciation, inclusion, and respect among diverse communities, including those in rural areas, through our policies, programs, practices, resources, and decisions.
To that end, we will:
- Continue to review all policies and products, such as the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula and unit lesson plans, when appropriate given policy review timelines or when resources are being revised and updated, to ensure inclusivity and respect.
- Design and support initiatives that expand access for diverse groups of students and teachers to the discipline of psychological science.
- Provide access to resources that enhance teaching and infuse inclusion across the curriculum.
- Continue broad outreach to teachers with a broad range of experiences and backgrounds regarding TOPSS membership and leadership roles, based on subject matter expertise and a broad range of professional, educational, and geographic experience.
- Collaborate with groups within and outside of APA to enhance relationships, combat misinformation through education, and increase visibility.
- Continue work to minimize or prevent the effects of behavior on all individuals based on implicit biases, prejudices, discrimination, and attitudes.
Originally developed in 2011; edited October 2026