List: West Michigan schools’ mask policies

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — As parents get ready to send their kids back to school, most are wondering whether they will have to wear masks.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is leaving the decision up to each district — though it is strongly recommending masks as part of a “layered” mitigation strategy and they have been mandated on school buses.

Find your school district’s mask policy in the list below.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Each school’s policy is subject to change. This list is incomplete as not all policies were readily available. Send us updates by emailing ReportIt@woodtv.com.

Allegan County

The Allegan County Health Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade.

Allegan Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details
Fennville Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 required in common area; 9-12 recommended | Details
Glenn Public School District: Following county mandate.
Hamilton Community Schools: K-6 masks required indoors; 7-12 optional | Details
Holland Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Hopkins Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-12 optional | Details
Martin Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-12 optional | Details
Otsego Public Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-12 optional | Details
Plainwell Community Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-12 optional | Details
Saugatuck Public Schools: Masks required, the Holland Sentinel reports | Details
Wayland Union Schools: K-6 masks required; 7-8 required around K-6; 9-12 recommended | Details

Barry County

Delton Kellogg School District: Masks optional | Details
Hastings Area School District: Masks optional | Details
Thornapple Kellogg School District: Masks recommended | Details

Branch County

Bronson Community Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Coldwater Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Quincy Community Schools: Masks optional | Details

Calhoun County

Athens Area Schools: Masks optional | Details
Battle Creek Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Bellevue Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Harper Creek Community Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Homer Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Mar Lee School District: Masks optional | Details
Marshall Public Schools: As of Aug. 15: TBD | Details
Pennfield Schools: Masks optional | Details
Tekonsha Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Union City Community Schools: Masks optional | Details

Ionia County

Belding Area School District: Masks optional
Ionia Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Lakewood Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Portland Public School District: Masks recommended | Details
Saranac Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
St. Patrick Catholic School – Portland: Masks optional | Details

Kalamazoo County

The Kalamazoo Health and Community Services Department is requiring masks in schools from kindergarten to sixth grade.

Climax-Scotts Community Schools: Masks recommended
Comstock Public Schools: TBD | Details
Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo: Masks optional | Details
Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools: K-6 masks required; optional 7-12 optional | Details
Gull Lake Community Schools: K-6 required; 7-8 TBD; 9-12 optional | Details
Kalamazoo Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Mattawan Consolidated School: K-6 required; 7-12 recommended | Details
Parchment School District: K-6 required, 7-12 TBD | Details
Portage Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Schoolcraft Community Schools: K-6 required | Details
Vicksburg Community Schools: TBD | Details

Kent County

The Kent County Health Department ordered masks in preschool through sixth grade buildings on Aug. 20. What follows is school policies as of the previous day.

Ada Christian School: PK-6 required; 7-8 optional | Details
Byron Center Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Caledonia Community Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Catholic Central High School: Masks recommended
Cedar Springs Public Schools School: Masks recommended | Details
Comstock Park Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
East Grand Rapids Public School District: K-6 required; 7-12 recommended | Details
Forest Hills Public Schools: Masks required for all K-6 students, all unvaccinated students | Details
Godwin Heights Public Schools: Masks required indoors. | Details
Grand Rapids Christian Schools: Masks optional | Details
Grand Rapids Public Schools: Masks required indoors | Details
Grandville Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Kelloggsville Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Kenowa Hills Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Kent City Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Kent Intermediate School District: Masks recommended | Details
Kentwood Public Schools: Masks required indoors | Details
Lowell Area Schools: Masks optional
Northview Public Schools: Masks recommended
Rockford Public Schools: PK-6 required, 7-12 optional
Sacred Heart Academy: Masks optional | Details
Sparta Area Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Thornapple Kellogg School District: Masks optional | Details
West Catholic High School: Masks optional | Details
Wyoming Public Schools: Masks required indoors | Details

Muskegon County

Fruitport Community Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Holton Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Mona Shores Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Montague Area Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Muskegon Catholic Central: Masks optional
Muskegon Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Muskegon Heights Public School Academy System: Masks required | Details
North Muskegon Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Oakridge Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Orchard View Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Ravenna Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Reeths-Puffer Schools: Masks optional | Details
Whitehall Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details

Montcalm County

Greenville Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Tri County Area Schools: Masks optional | Details
Vestaburg Community School: Masks optional | Details

Newaygo County

Grant Public School District: Masks optional | Details
Hesperia Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Newaygo Public School District: Masks optional | Details
White Cloud Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details

Oceana County

Hart Public School District: Masks optional | Details
Pentwater Public School District: Masks required | Details
Shelby Public Schools: Masks optional | Details

Ottawa County

The Ottawa County Department of Public Health ordered masks in preschool through sixth grade buildings on Aug. 20. What follows is school policies as of the previous day.

Allendale Public Schools: Masks optional
Black River Public School: Masks required | Details
Grand Haven Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Holland Christian Schools: PK-6 required, 7-12 optional | Details
Holland Public Schools: Masks required | Details
Hudsonville Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Jenison Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Spring Lake Public Schools: Masks required | Details
West Ottawa Public Schools: TBD | Board of Education return to school policy meeting Aug. 19 at 7 p.m.
Zeeland Christian School: Following county mandate
Zeeland Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details

St. Joseph County

Burr Oak Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Centreville Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Colon Community Schools: Masks optional
Constantine Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Mendon Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
Nottawa Community School: Masks optional | Details
Sturgis Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Three Rivers Community Schools: Masks optional | Details
White Pigeon Community Schools: Masks recommended | Details

Van Buren County

Bangor Public Schools: Masks required indoors | Details
Bloomingdale Public School District: Masks recommended | Details
Gobles Public School District: Masks optional | Details
Hartford Public Schools: Masks optional | Details
Lawrence Public Schools: Masks recommended | Details
Mattawan Consolidated School: K-6 required; 7-12 recommended | Details

Colleges and universities

Aquinas College: Masks required indoors | Details
Calvin University: Masks required indoors | Details
Central Michigan University: Masks required indoors. Unvaccinated students required to get tested weekly. | Details
Cornerstone University: Masks optional | Details
Davenport University: Masks required indoors | Details
Grand Rapids Community College: Masks required indoors. Vaccine not required, incentive program | Details
Grand Valley State University: Masks required indoors. Vaccine required by Sept. 30. | Details
Hope College: Masks required indoors | Details
Kalamazoo College: Masks required indoors. Vaccine required by fall semester. | Details
Kellogg Community College: Masks required indoors. | Details
Kuyper College: Masks required indoors | Details
Michigan State University: Masks required indoors. Vaccine required by Aug. 31. | Details
Muskegon Community College
University of Michigan: Masks required for those who have not verified their vaccine status. Vaccine required by Aug. 30. | Details
Western Michigan University: Masks required indoors. Unvaccinated students required to get tested weekly. | Details

**CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story referenced the incorrect Hartford Public Schools’ policy. We regret this error, which has since been corrected.