Under rules established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education:

• If a student has had three unexcused absences in a school year, the school must hold a meeting with the parents/guardians to develop a truancy elimination plan.• A truant student may be arrested by a school attendance officer or a law enforcement officer.• School districts must provide parents/guardians with written notice if a student has three unexcused absences in a school year. The district may also notify the county Children and Youth Services agency.• If a student continues to skip school after the parents/guardians receive the notice, the school district can file a truancy petition with the local district judge, who will hold a hearing.• Parents/guardians of a student deemed truant may be fined $300 and/or ordered to perform community service.• Truant students may lose their driver's license for 90 days for a first offense and six months for a second offense.• There is a maximum fine of $300 and up to 90 days in jail for an adult who aids, abets, entices or encourages a student (under age 18) to be truant from school. This is considered a summary offense.• Subsequent violations by such a person within one year of the prior offense constitute a misdemeanor of the third degree, which is punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to one year in jail.