Truancy is the intentional, unauthorized, or illegal absence from compulsory education without a valid excuse. It refers to students deliberately missing school or classes by their own free will, excluding legitimate absences such as those for medical reasons
. Truancy can include skipping entire school days or missing specific classes while attending school (called internal truancy)
. It is typically defined by school policies and state laws, which set thresholds for when absences are considered truancy. There are different categories of truancy, including:
- Absenteeism: Missing school intermittently without reasonable excuses.
- Habitual truancy: Missing a certain number of consecutive days or total days without permission, as defined by local laws.
- Chronic truancy: Extensive or ongoing unexcused absences that may lead to legal intervention or court orders
Truancy is often treated as a legal issue involving not only the student but also the parents, who may face fines, parenting classes, or other penalties if their child is truant
. In some countries, authorities can detain or arrest truant minors during school hours
. Common reasons for truancy include fear or anxiety about school, bullying, lack of interest, family problems, or substance use
. Truancy can negatively impact academic success, increase dropout risk, and correlate with delinquent behavior
. In summary, truancy is unauthorized absence from school without valid reasons, subject to school and legal consequences aimed at ensuring students attend compulsory education
