The Texas law considers runaways and truants both to be status offences. In the case of a runaway parents are required to contact the police and fill a report on your child as a runaway. Police will then find the child and return the child to his/her home or take any other appropriate action. As the parent you would be in noncompliance with both the runaway law and truancy law, until you have contacted the police and filed a report.
If you have received a subpoena to come to court, then you must appear with a lawyer or one will be appointed for you. If, you attempt to notify your child, he/she is to also appear in court with an attorney and the child does not show the judge will order the child picked up.
Failure to appear can cause the judge to fine both you and your child for noncompliance to the subpoena. If, you attempt to have your child present and he/she is not present, then you probably will not be fined if you appear.
If you go to the website www.juvenilelaw.org/Articles/SchoolAttendanceIssues.pdf You will find a copy of the Texas Truancy Laws. Good luck!
