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 Indiana, truancy laws are established to ensure that students attend school regularly and to hold them accountable for excessive unexcused absences. Under Indiana Code (IC 20-33-2), a child is considered truant if they are absent from school without a valid excuse or parental consent. Schools are required to report truancy to the juvenile court or the Department of Child Services. The law mandates interventions to address truancy before legal action is taken, such as attendance agreements or referral to truancy mediation programs. If these interventions fail, the court may become involved, and the focus is on the best interest of the child, with possible outcomes including counseling, community service, or other court-ordered educational services. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to support the child in returning to regular school attendance. It's important to note that while truancy is treated as a civil matter, parents or guardians may also face legal consequences under certain circumstances for failing to ensure their child's attendance at school.