Eugene School District 4J

Students who are unable to live with parents may be enrolled in a 4J school by a legal guardian or an adult serving as a parent/guardian with a power of attorney.

The Lane County Circuit Courts Self-help information website contains information explaining two different legal ways (Guardianship and Power of Attorney) to secure oversight for a minor child in the State of Oregon. Under the Family Law – Miscellaneous section, click Other Family Law Miscellaneous forms listed below.

Guardianship

A student under legal guardianship may be enrolled by their legal guardian directly at their school by providing a copy of the court-issued papers to establish their role as Primary Parent/Guardian. A student under legal guardianship, including students in foster care, may have school of origin rights. For information on school of origin rights, visit the Eugene School District 4J McKinney-Vento program website or call 541-790-6888.

Unaccompanied Youth

A student without a parent/guardian may enroll in school at anytime. Please visit the Eugene School District 4J McKinney-Vento program website or call 541-790-6888 for more information.

Educational Power of Attorney and Tuition Waiver

An adult serving as a parent/guardian to a student (without a legal guardianship) may request to enroll the student. To enroll, the district must establish a temporary educational power of attorney. The educational power of attorney grants temporary educational decision-making for the student to an adult serving as a parent/guardian, referred to as Attorney-in-Fact. The following conditions apply:

• The adult serving as a parent/guardian to the student (aka Attorney-in-Fact) is responsible for submitting an updated educational power of attorney twice per school year on September 1 and March 1.
• The student must live at the residence of the adult serving as a parent/guardian to the student, if under 18 years of age, for more than 50% of the school year.
• All school choice transfer requests must be in place if not attending the neighborhood school of the primary residence.

The residence of the adult serving as a parent/guardian to the student may or may not be considered the primary residence of the student based on Oregon Revised Statutes (For more information see Oregon State Legislature reference ORS 339.133 or OregonLaws.org ORS 339.133).

The Power of Attorney form is available at the Lane County Circuit Courts Self-help information website; under the Family Law – Miscellaneous section, click Other Family Law Miscellaneous forms listed below. The form must be signed in front of a Oregon Notary Public. Free notary services are available through the Eugene School District 4J School Choice Office.

A Tuition Waiver may be granted if the student is living apart from their parent/guardian due to extenuating circumstances and not living with the adult serving as a parent/guardian primarily for the purposes of attending a 4J school. A tuition waiver will not be granted if the residency is requested primarily for the purpose of attending a 4J school. The Directors of Pre-K-5 Education or Director of Secondary Education will evaluate and approve/decline requests.

Please email schoolchoice@4j.lane.edu for more information.