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 Georgia, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly. Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) § 20-2-690.1, a child between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend a public, private, or home study program. Truancy is defined as more than five days of unexcused absences during the school year. Georgia law requires schools to notify parents after their child has five unexcused absences, and schools must take efforts to prevent further truancy. If absences continue, the matter can be referred to the juvenile court system. The court may use various measures to address truancy, focusing on the best interest of the child, which can include ordering the child to attend school, participate in counseling or community service, or imposing penalties on parents or guardians. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to support the child's return to regular school attendance.