Taos schools to introduce ‘Flex Fridays’ next semester

Next semester, starting in January, Taos High School and Taos Middle School plan to introduce “Flex Fridays,” a five-day school week with Fridays meant to specialize in providing students with additional support across a broad spectrum of needs — whether it be academic, professional or behavioral.

The main goal of the new program, school administrators say, is to provide students with the help they need in a more intimate, personalized and less structured way. Students helped inspire the idea of one day out of the week reserved for extra-academic activities after expressing concerns about struggling to find time each week to fulfill other important needs, such as applying for college scholarships and looking for jobs.

Flex Fridays is also intended to hone in on problems faced by students who may be struggling with their academics, attendance or who may have unaddressed behavioral health issues.

Because of the more intimate teacher-to-student ratios available on Fridays, the schools hope students can be given a more direct and individualized education that will help best fit their needs. Tutoring and extra help will be accessible to all students.

Flex Fridays will provide students with the opportunity to take college readiness courses, online courses, UNM classes and complete required community service hours. Internships will be available to students who want hands-on experience in a career they hope to pursue. These internships focus on certain career clusters that individuals may take interest in — and instead of only being one-to-two hours long — students will be able to intern for the duration of a full day. Flex Fridays may on its own count as a college readiness course that could make students eligible to receive college credit.

Taos High seniors, in particular, believe the new program will ensure a higher graduation rate this year, by allowing students additional time to complete senior projects and improve their academic performance.

In coming years, Taos High School and Taos Middle School administrators also hope to improve their health programs for students, especially those who do not have regular access to primary care doctors. To better address behavioral health needs, the schools also hope to offer grief counseling and support groups.

Lunch, breakfast and a bus service will remain available to students on Fridays.