West Ottawa Public School District
Step 4 of 10
Form a Steering Committee (Step Descriptions)
Signatures

60

People who signed Lifewise's petition

State Law

Michigan is a
"May" state

Learn more about state laws.

Location Map HOLLAND, MI 49424 Ottawa County
Lifewise Local Program Website Link (opens in a new tab)
District Poverty Rate 10.5% (data source)
Non-White Students 60.0% (data source)
NCES Link NCES District Info
Last Updated January 20, 2026
Michigan State Law

School districts may create a policy allowing students to be released for religious study, or they may choose not to coordinate with released-time programs and require the students' legal guardians facilitate the process.
Read more about "May" and "Shall" state laws

Full Law Text Link to State Law

380.1561 Compulsory attendance at public school; enrollment dates; exceptions.
Sec. 1561.

(3) A child is not required to attend a public school in any of the following cases:
(d) The child is regularly enrolled in a public school while in attendance at religious instruction classes for not more than 2 class hours per week, off public school property during public school hours, upon written request of the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis.

What Can My School District Do?

All school districts, regardless of whether they are required by law to allow released time, should implement good policy and be prepared for when a released time program may approach the district. The time to set the policy is before an active program is pressuring the district. Research polices the district can implement to protect teachers' and students' instruction time. Set polices that limit disruptions to students and the ability for proselytization to occur, impacting other students of faith or no faith. A more detailed write-up on school board policies can be read here.

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Schools in the District (13)
School Grades Period
Dunes Alternative High School
Great Lakes Elementary School
Harbor Lights Middle School
Lakeshore Elementary School
Lakewood Elementary School
Macatawa Bay Middle School
North Holland Elementary School
Pine Creek Elementary School
Sheldon Woods Elementary School
Waukazoo Elementary School
West Ottawa High School Campus
West Ottawa Virtual Academy
Woodside Elementary School
3 schools not shown
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Launch Steps History
Step
Description
Signatures
Date
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
60
January 13, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
59
January 5, 2026
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
58
December 20, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
57
December 18, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
56
December 13, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
55
November 19, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
54
November 9, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
53
November 7, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
52
November 2, 2025
Step 4
Form a Steering Committee
50
October 28, 2025
Step 2
Join a Kickoff Meeting
50
October 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
31
September 29, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
30
July 23, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
29
June 15, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
28
March 28, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
26
March 20, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
25
March 4, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
24
February 15, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
22
February 5, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
21
February 2, 2025
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
20
December 31, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
18
October 17, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
14
October 9, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
13
July 26, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
12
March 29, 2024
Step 1
Collect 50 Signatures
11
March 25, 2024
 
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