Georgia Law is clear on this
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/student-truancy-can-spell-1000-fine-jail-for-paren/nQPb6/
...After five unexcused absences, a parent can be fined up to $100 and sentenced to 30 days in jail or community service, according to state law. The most severe cases are referred to Juvenile Court.
It is also very clear from Georgia law that mandatory age for compulsory attendance is 6.
The lie was that she could receive jail time if the boy was suspended instead of taking the paddling. Also as some have posted the age of compulsory education in Georgia begins at age six. So how could he be truant. A suspension is not an unexcused absence. Now in some reports it reads she was told and others state she thought it was implied. So the story does change depending on who is reporting it.
Now if this child is a constant problem and has been disrupted before it is suggestive that he needs to be evaluated for whether he should be placed in ESE and given an IED.