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 Louisiana (LA), truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly and to hold them accountable for excessive unexcused absences. Louisiana's truancy statutes are primarily found in the state's education code. These laws define a truant as a child who is absent from school without permission and outline the responsibilities of both parents and schools in preventing truancy. When a student is habitually absent or tardy without valid excuses, schools are required to report this to the appropriate authorities. The state may intervene through various means, such as truancy assessment and service centers, to address the issue. The courts may also become involved, and the proceedings are typically civil in nature. The focus of these proceedings is on the best interest of the child, with the goal of returning the student to regular school attendance rather than imposing criminal penalties. Parents may also face consequences under these laws if they fail to compel their child to attend school.