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 Nevada, truancy laws are primarily governed by the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS), particularly within the education code. These laws mandate that children from the age of 7 to 18 must attend school unless excused for a valid reason. When a student is declared a 'habitual truant,' which typically means having three or more unexcused absences in one school year, the school is required to report this to the juvenile court. The court proceedings focus on the best interest of the child, aiming to address the underlying issues causing truancy and to promote future attendance. The process is civil in nature, and interventions may include counseling, community service, or other educational programs rather than punitive measures. Parents or guardians may also be involved in the proceedings, as they are responsible for ensuring their child's attendance and may face penalties themselves for their child's truancy under NRS 392.130.