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 Washington State, truancy laws are governed by the Becca Bill, which is codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) under RCW 28A.225. The law requires children from age 8 to 18 to attend a public school, private school, or a district-approved home school program. If a child has unexcused absences from school, the school district is mandated to take action. After one unexcused absence, the school is required to inform the parent. After two unexcused absences, the school must schedule a conference with the parent and student to address the issue. If a student has five unexcused absences in a month or ten in a school year, the school district may file a petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance laws. The court then has the authority to intervene and impose a variety of orders aimed at ensuring the child's return to regular school attendance, such as community service, detention, or restrictions on driving privileges. The focus is on the best interest of the child, with the goal of addressing the underlying issues causing the truancy.