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 Arizona, truancy laws are primarily governed by state statutes found in the education code. Arizona law defines a 'habitual truant' as a student who has a series of unexcused absences from school. Specifically, under Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) §15-803, a child between the ages of six and sixteen must attend school, and parents are responsible for ensuring their child's attendance. A student is considered 'habitually truant' if they have five or more unexcused absences from school. The law requires schools to report habitual truants to the proper authorities. Truancy can lead to interventions that focus on the best interest of the child, which may include counseling, community service, or participation in a diversion program. In some cases, parents or guardians may also face penalties for failing to ensure their child's attendance at school. The courts aim to address truancy in a manner that encourages education and deters future unexcused absences, rather than imposing harsh criminal penalties.