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 Kentucky, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly and to hold them accountable for excessive unexcused absences. Kentucky law defines a truant as any child who has been absent from school without valid excuse for three or more days, or tardy on three or more days, without a valid excuse. A habitual truant is a student who has been reported as a truant two or more times. The Kentucky statutes pertaining to truancy are typically found in the education code. When a student is found to be truant, the school is required to report to the director of pupil personnel, who then investigates the case. If necessary, the case may be referred to the court system. The courts aim to serve the best interest of the child, and interventions are designed to address the underlying issues contributing to the truancy. This may involve the child, parents, and school officials working together to create a plan to improve attendance. Penalties for truancy can include fines, educational classes for parents, and other measures focused on remedying the situation rather than punitive actions.