The McKinney-Vento Act (MVA) ensures that children and youth are provided a free, appropriate public education, despite lack of a fixed place of residence. Youth who are not living with a parent or legal guardian, including runaways, may also qualify for these services.

For more information, explore these resources:

• National Center for Homeless Education

• National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

• SchoolHouse Connection

The term “unaccompanied youth” (UY) refers to youth who are not living with their parents or legal guardians. McKinney-Vento eligibility is based on the youth’s current nighttime living arrangement. Most UY will qualify for McKinney-Vento rights and services, but not all.

Please contact the McKinney-Vento liaison at 541-607-1463 to determine eligibility or assist with enrollment and other needs. The involvement of the MV liaison is especially important because UY often face many barriers to enrolling, attending, and succeeding in school.

The primary responsibility of schools is to enroll and educate children and youth, not to make judgments about the validity of why a student is not living with a parent or guardian.

Unaccompanied youth who are in temporary housing are eligible for all rights and services under the MVA regardless of the circumstances that led to their separation from family. This includes:

• Youth who ran away from home
• Youth who were forced from home by their families

The MVA includes the following provisions specific to UY:

• the right to immediate enrollment and assistance from the MV liaison to select a school of attendance
• the right to receive transportation to and from school
• the right to prompt and fair resolution of any disputes 

1. Refer the student to the McKinney Liaison to assess residency situation and enrollment options as defined in the McKinney-Vento Act (MVA).
2. If a dispute still exists, the child or youth shall be immediately admitted to the school in which enrollment is sought, until the dispute is resolved.
3. The parent or guardian of the child or youth shall be provided with a written explanation of the school’s decision regarding school selection or enrollment, including the rights of the parent, guardian, or youth to appeal the decision (which would follow the district’s complaint procedure, Policy and Administrative Rules KL). They shall also be given a step-by-step description of our complaint procedure. The liaison will keep a copy of the written explanation.
4. The Bethel McKinney-Vento Liaison shall carry out the dispute resolution process as quickly as possible after receiving notice of the dispute.
5. In the case of unaccompanied youth, the MVA Liaison shall ensure that the youth is immediately enrolled in school pending resolution of the dispute.

If the school, district or McKinney liaison disagrees with the parent/guardian/youth about McKinney-Vento eligibility, school selection, or enrollment, there is a process to appeal the decision – every school district and state must establish procedures to promptly resolve disputes regarding the educational placement of students in transition.

• Under the McKinney-Vento Act, a student in temporary housing has the right to attend either their school of origin, if this is in the student’s best interest, or the neighborhood’s public school where the child or youth has current nighttime accommodations.
• “School of origin” is the school that the student attended when permanently housed or the school in which they were last enrolled.

• If a student is sent to a school other than the school of origin or the neighborhood public school where they are currently staying (whichever is requested by the parent or unaccompanied youth), the School District must provide the parent/guardian/youth with a written explanation of its decision and the right to appeal.
• Whenever a dispute arises, the student must be enrolled immediately to the requested school and be allowed to participate fully in all school activities while the dispute is being resolved.
• The school must refer the student, parent, or guardian to the district liaison to carry out the dispute resolution process as quickly as possible.
• Local liaisons must ensure that the same access to the dispute resolution process is provided to unaccompanied youth.

To request transportation assistance contact:
Mari Ford, Bethel McKinney-Vento Liaison
Email: Mari.Ford@bethel.k12.or.us
Phone: 541-689-3283

• Catholic Community Services Food, clothing, housing, utility assistance, emergency help, immigration legal services

• St. Vincent de PaulEmergency services, shelter, affordable housing, rental history repair

• Hope & Safety Alliance: (formerly WomenSpace)Emergency services, information and support for women experiencing domestic violence

• First Place Family Center - For families with children, daytime drop-in center, free laundry, housing help, food pantry

• Homes for Good - Lane County’s public housing agency, affordable housing, Section 8
• The Eugene Mission - Emergency shelter for men, women, and mothers with children. Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol

• School District Meals

• SNAP

• Food for Lane County

• Trillium Produce Plus

• NeedFood.Oregon Gov

• Bethel Health Center

• White Bird Clinic

• White Bird Community Resources -English

• Recursos de la Comunidad de White Bird - Español