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 Minnesota, truancy laws are established to ensure that children attend school regularly, as education is considered essential for a child's development and future opportunities. Under Minnesota statutes, a truant is defined as a child under the age of 17 years who is absent from attendance at school without lawful excuse for seven school days if the child is in elementary school, or for one or more class periods on seven school days if the child is in middle school, junior high school, or high school. When a student is truant, the school district typically first attempts to address the issue through educational measures and parental involvement. If these efforts fail, the matter may be referred to the county attorney. Minnesota law provides for civil procedures, rather than criminal penalties, to address truancy. The court's focus is on the best interest of the child, and interventions may include educational support services, counseling, or other programs aimed at improving the child's attendance and engagement with school. The goal is to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to help the child return to regular school attendance.