A truant is a student who stays away from school without permission or an explanation. Truancy laws are designed to encourage school attendance by creating simple court procedures through which children are held accountable for excessive school absences. The courts focus on the best interest of the child when addressing the truant conduct of a child.
Truant conduct is usually prosecuted or addressed as a civil (noncriminal) matter, and the definition and procedures for dealing with truancy are usually located in a state's statutes—often in the family code or education code.
In Alaska, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly and to address issues of unexcused absences. Under Alaska Statute 14.30.010, every child between seven and 16 years of age must attend school. Parents are responsible for ensuring their child's attendance, and failure to do so may lead to intervention by the school district or legal authorities. Truancy matters are typically handled as civil cases, with the focus on the best interest of the child. The court may implement various measures to address truancy, such as ordering attendance in a program or treatment, imposing fines on parents, or requiring community service. The goal is to correct the truant behavior rather than to punish the child, with an emphasis on educational engagement and support for the family to overcome barriers to attendance.