Overcoming School Avoidance: What to Do When Your Kid Won't Go to School -- Jayne Demsky, Paperback

A compassionate guide that tackles one of the fastest-growing issues facing families everywhere: the increasing number of children who are refusing or reluctant to attend school.

Often misunderstood as defiance or opposition, school avoidance can be a sign of deeper emotional or mental health challenges. Yet, many parents find themselves unprepared when these behaviors arise and struggle to find the right support.

In this first-of-its-kind guide, Jayne Demsky--founder of the School Avoidance Alliance--provides a comprehensive roadmap for parents who feel isolated and overwhelmed by their child's school avoidance. Demsky offers practical strategies that help parents work with school administrators, navigate truancy laws, and most importantly, provide the structure and emotional support their children need to return to learning.

Demsky explains how to strike the delicate balance between discipline and compassion, offering advice on how to set boundaries while addressing underlying mental health needs.

Through expert interviews with mental health providers and insights gathered from the School Avoidance Alliance's large and active parent community, Overcoming School Avoidance sheds light on this complex issue. This is more than just a how-to book--it's a compassionate and timely resource that aims to restore confidence and hope to parents and help children return to a productive and fulfilling school life.

Author: Jayne Demsky
Publisher: Union Square & Co.
Published: 10/14/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781454958048

About the Author
Jayne Demsky is the founder of the School Avoidance Alliance, where she has dedicated over a decade to empowering families and educational institutions in the complexities of school avoidance. The organization was born from the challenges her son faced with chronic school avoidance, filling a critical gap in support, education, and advocacy. Today, the School Avoidance Alliance is the leading resource for school avoidance professional development across the United States. Their flagship courses--"Everything You Need to Know to Get Your Students Back to School" for educators and the "School Avoidance Master Class for Parents"--have transformed the approach of countless school districts. The Alliance's contributions have been featured in USA Today, Education Week, the Washington Post, ADDitude magazine, Fox News, Good Morning Arizona, CBS News, and more.