Across the United States millions of school age students miss more that 18 days of school in a single year (Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2017). These students are far more likely than their regularly attending counterparts to be below grade level in reading, have behavior issues and be at risk of dropping out (Applied Survey Research, 2011). The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of six former students who were chronically truant when they were in middle and high school to identify commonalities amongst their experiences. The Theory of Planned Behavior was utilized to focus on what attitudes, norms and perceived controls the students used to form their intent and eventual behavior of missing school. This phenomenological study explored one central question: What are the experiences of rural Pennsylvania, students who are chronically truant? In this qualitative, phenomenological study semi-structured interviews were used to gather data. The data was coded and five common themes emerged. Childhood traumas, school regulations, student activities, family responsibilities and work responsibilities became evident as common experiences that affected the attendance of the participants. With these common experiences in mind, school districts can design attendance interventions that address the root issues that students who are chronically truant are facing. Enhanced and focused counseling, flexible schedules and increased efforts to get all students involved in extra-curriculars are a few possible interventions. This study will give districts a focused target. This study illustrates that districts need to look outside the traditional framework and design interventions based on the actual and individualized lived experiences and circumstances of their chronically truant students. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]