For many faith communities, supporting young people has long meant prayer, mentorship, and encouragement. A growing effort within Wichita Public Schools is inviting congregations to build on that foundation by taking a more intentional role in supporting student achievement—work that extends well beyond Sunday services.
Led by Corinthian Kelly, director of partnerships and belonging, the district’s Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness initiative is designed to help churches and other community groups better understand how the students connected to them are performing academically and how they can offer encouragement and support in meaningful, appropriate ways. The initiative is now seeking to engage additional congregations and community organizations, prompting an upcoming informational meeting for those interested in learning more.
Rather than positioning congregations as extensions of individual schools, the program emphasizes their role as trusted community partners—places where students are known, encouraged, and reinforced in their efforts to succeed.
The 95-0-3 Framework: Where It Started and Why It Matters
At the center of the initiative is a straightforward but powerful framework known as 95-0-3:
- 95% attendance
- Zero suspensions
- A 3.0 GPA
The framework was developed by the late Dr. William Polite, whose work supporting student achievement spanned years of community-based efforts, including the Kathryn Johnson Scholars program.
While Dr. Polite had been engaged for years in community-based student success efforts, including the Kathryn Johnson Scholars program, his work with the Wichita Bulldogs football organization helped illustrate how community organizations could intentionally support the academic performance of the students they served. That effort became an early precursor to what would later evolve into the Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness framework.
Over time, the 95-0-3 framework expanded beyond athletics and was adopted more broadly as an indicator of student success—one Wichita Public Schools now uses to help guide community engagement.
Kelly has emphasized that consistent attendance is foundational. Students who are present more often have greater access to instruction, support services, and positive school relationships, all of which influence long-term outcomes.
How Congregations Participate
Congregations that choose to participate formally enroll in the initiative. With parental consent, the district provides quarterly, fully aggregated reports reflecting how students connected to that congregation are doing across attendance, behavior, and GPA.
No individual student names, grades, or disciplinary records are shared.
For example, if a congregation has multiple students participating, it receives one combined attendance rate, one average GPA, and one behavior indicator. The data is intended to create awareness—not oversight—and to help congregations think about how they can encourage students and families more intentionally.
That awareness often becomes a starting point for action.
Tabernacle as One Example
Tabernacle Bible Church offers one example of how a congregation can engage through the program.
Encouraged by Dr. Polite, who was a member of the church, Tabernacle was an early adopter of his Engaging Churches concept and began using aggregated data as a tool for motivation and celebration. The congregation incorporates academic recognition moments that affirm students’ efforts and reinforce the importance of school success as part of overall well-being.
Tabernacle’s approach is presented as one illustration of how faith communities can support students beyond spiritual development and help reinforce habits that contribute to long-term success.
As Kelly has noted, the framework itself is flexible.
“That model can be replicated anywhere,” he said. “Whether a congregation has sixty students or six, everyone can participate.”
Why Community Support Matters
Wichita Public Schools serves more than 45,000 students across a large, diverse district. Kelly has said that scale makes community involvement essential.
“Wichita is resource-rich, but schools can’t do this work alone,” he said. “We have to engage the community if we want long-term success for students.”
Through Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness, the district is working to ensure that adults who already have trusted relationships with students—pastors, mentors, coaches, and community leaders—understand what academic success looks like and how to reinforce it.
The initiative is not about discipline or surveillance. Student privacy remains central, with all shared data aggregated and participation requiring parental authorization. Families may choose to share individual report cards with trusted community members, but that decision remains theirs.
Looking ahead, Kelly sees the framework extending beyond congregations to include youth-serving organizations, nonprofits, and others who work closely with young people.
Changing the Narrative Around Education
At its core, Kelly says the initiative is about reshaping how students see themselves and their potential.
“I want kids to know it’s cool to be smart,” he said. “Being smart gives you options.”
Through Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness, Wichita Public Schools aims to strengthen academic identity, increase graduation rates, and build a broader community culture that reinforces the value of learning—support that follows students not just in classrooms, but throughout their daily lives.
Informational Meeting for Churches and Community Groups
Faith leaders and community organizations interested in learning more about Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness are invited to attend an upcoming informational meeting. While congregations are a key focus, individuals and organizations that work with youth are also encouraged to participate. Organizers request that one representative per congregation or organization attend. RSVP is required.
Engaging Congregations for Future Readiness – Informational Meeting
- When: Monday, Feb. 9, 2026
- Time: 6–7:30 p.m.
- Where: Alvin Morris Administrative Center (AMAC)
903 S. Edgemoor, Room 813 - Parking: South lot between AMAC and Curtis Middle School
- Dinner: Light meal provided
RSVP by Jan. 26, 2026
Rebecca Porter
📧 rporter1@usd259.net
📞 316-973-4413
