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 Maine, truancy is addressed under the state's education laws. A truant is defined as a student who is at least 7 years of age and has not completed grade 6, and who has the equivalent of 7 full days of unexcused absences or 5 consecutive school days of unexcused absences during a school year. Maine law requires that school officials take specific steps to address truancy, which include notifying parents, meeting with the family to identify the cause of truancy, and developing a plan to encourage attendance. If these interventions fail, the school may refer the matter to the local district attorney. The court system then becomes involved, focusing on the best interest of the child, and may implement various measures such as truancy prevention counseling, community service, or other court-mandated programs. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to ensure the child's return to regular school attendance.