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 Washington State, truancy laws are governed by the Becca Bill, which is codified in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) under RCW 28A.225. The law requires children from 8 to 18 years old to attend a public school, private school, or a district-approved home school program. If a child has unexcused absences from school, the school district is mandated to take action. After one unexcused absence, the school is required to inform the parent. After two unexcused absences, the school must schedule a conference with the parent and student to address the absences. If a student has five unexcused absences in a month or ten in a year, the school district may file a petition with the juvenile court alleging a violation of the compulsory attendance laws. The court then has the authority to impose a variety of interventions and sanctions, with the aim of improving the student's attendance, rather than punishment. The focus is on engaging the family and student to address the underlying issues causing truancy, with the ultimate goal of keeping the student in an educational environment.