October 6th 8:00 - 9:15 PM EST Supporting Kids Through School Avoidance: What Every Parent Should Know with Jayne Demsky

School avoidance is a growing crisis that continues to fly under the radar, leaving families scared, frustrated, and isolated. This presentation offers a comprehensive introduction to school avoidance, including key facts, common misconceptions, and the systemic barriers that delay effective support. You'll learn evidence-based strategies, best practices , and actionable insights to advocate for your child, uphold their right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and foster meaningful collaboration across school teams.

For over a decade, Jayne has helped schools and families re-engage students struggling with school avoidance. Inspired by her own son’s experience and the lack of clear guidance available at the time, she founded the School Avoidance Alliance in 2014 to empower families and educators with practical, compassionate solutions
Today, the School Avoidance Alliance is recognized as the leading provider of professional development on school avoidance across the United States. Their flagship course, Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Students Back to School has reshaped how districts address chronic avoidance. Meanwhile, the School Avoidance Master Class empowers families with insights and strategies to break the cycle and support long-term recovery.

Jayne is also a founding member of Attendance USA, where she collaborates with the top experts in school attendance. Her work has been featured in USA Today, Education Week, The Washington Post, EdSurge, Fox News, and CBS News New York. Her forthcoming book, Overcoming School Avoidance: What To Do When Your Kid Won’t GoTo School published by Hachette Book Group, will be released on October 14, 2025 and is available for preorder now.