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 Alabama, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly. Under Alabama law, a child between the ages of 6 and 17 is required to attend school. Truancy is defined as a series of unexcused absences from school, and the state has implemented measures to address this issue. When a student becomes truant, the school is typically required to notify the parents and take steps to address the absences. If the problem persists, the matter may be referred to the early warning truancy prevention program, which involves the juvenile court system. The court's focus is on the best interest of the child, and it may implement various interventions to correct the truant behavior. These interventions can include educational programs, counseling, and in some cases, involvement of the Department of Human Resources. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to help the child return to regular school attendance. The process is civil rather than criminal, but parents can also face penalties if they are found to be contributing to the truancy of their child.