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 Idaho, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly. According to Idaho Code § 33-206, a 'habitual truant' is a pupil who, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, repeatedly has unexcused absences from school. The law requires that children between the ages of 7 and 16 attend school. If a child is found to be a habitual truant, the school district may file a petition in the juvenile court. The court proceedings focus on the best interest of the child, with the aim of resolving the underlying issues causing the truancy. The court may order interventions such as counseling, community service, or other educational programs. Parents or guardians may also be held responsible for their child's attendance and can face penalties if they fail to ensure their child attends school. The approach is generally civil rather than criminal, with the goal of supporting, rather than punishing, the student to encourage future attendance.