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 Indiana, truancy laws are established to ensure that students attend school regularly and to hold them accountable for excessive unexcused absences. Under Indiana Code (IC 20-33-2), a child is considered truant if they are absent from school without a valid excuse or parental consent. Schools are required to report truancy to the juvenile court or the Department of Child Services. The juvenile court system then addresses truancy issues, focusing on the best interest of the child, and may implement various interventions to correct the behavior. These interventions can include counseling, community service, or participation in a truancy prevention program. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to support the child's return to regular school attendance. Parents may also be held accountable for their child's truancy and can face legal consequences if they fail to ensure their child's attendance at school.