When the Absent Days Start to Add Up - A TWC Breakout Session

Join Stephanie Petrillo, Staff Attorney for Disability Rights Iowa, for an insightful session on chronic absenteeism.

In this session, participants will learn about chronic absenteeism and how it affects student success and school performance. Stephanie will explain truancy laws in Iowa, providing important information to help understand these regulations. She will also discuss how caregivers can work with school teams to support chronically absent students and promote attendance. This session is ideal for educators, administrators, and caregivers committed to improving student outcomes.

When: 
At the Together We Can Conference, May 3rd, 2025

Breakout Session/Time: 
Session One from 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Track: 
Disability Law

Room: 
D

REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

Participants will learn:

1. The definition and impact of chronic absenteeism.
2. Details about truancy laws in Iowa.
3. How to partner with your school team to address and support students considered to be chronically absent.

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Petrillo
B.A., J.D.
Staff Attorney, Disability Rights Iowa

Stephanie joined Disability Rights Iowa in 2022 after graduating with honors from Drake Law School. While at Drake, Stephanie focused on public policy and civil rights law, and interned with non-profits and government entities. This work highlighted for her how the issues people with disabilities face are connected and intertwined, and the important role that she has when advocating for her clients. Prior to law school, Stephanie graduated from Grand View University with a bachelor’s degree in History and a minor in the Logos Honors program. Stephanie’s work at DRI includes helping clients with special education, employment, guardianship, and accommodation issues, as well as educating lawmakers on these topics. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading and learning new things, and playing with her Bassett Hound named Fred.