News that the Franklin Redevelopment and Housing Authority is offering free tutoring to its young residents is refreshing.

Most of these 64 children, we can assume, attend Franklin City Public Schools, which has been riddled with bad news over academics.

Franklin’s three school have been placed on an accreditation-warning list, meaning they did not meet all state standards for achievement in English, math, history and science.

S.P. Morton Elementary School students fell below state standards in reading, while J.P. King Middle School and Franklin High School students fell below in math.

The three schools were among only 100 out of Virginia’s 1,836 schools to be accredited with warning; 1,714 are accredited.

Improving academics in Franklin will take parental and community involvement. A lot of these kids need that extra attention. Someone who cares. Someone who will take the time to work with them outside the classroom.

FRHA has partnered with LeVoc Family Services and Virginia Mentoring Partnership to provide the after-school program.

It’s a positive step and something parents should take advantage of.