E58-Mark Jansen MAAP Podcast 10-19-26

NewTech High Podcast
October 19, 2026

Mark Jansen Podcast

We were pleased to host Mark Jansen, Director of Knights Academy ALP in St. Michael-Albertville this afternoon. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs (MAAP). He has spent his entire 24-year career in alternative education including:

• Social studies teacher and lead teacher at MERC Alternative in South Minneapolis
• Teacher at Fairview Alternative in Roseville
• Dean of students at Forest Lake ALC

We discussed many aspects of alternative education that I will summarize below. 

Why alternative schools work

Alternative programs give students a fresh start, with classes of about 15–16 students. Mark sees relationships as the core of the work: students who connect with a teacher want to succeed for them. At a recent staff meeting, teachers initialed every student they had a relationship with, a version of the “dots” exercise Mark Scharenbroich "Nice Bike" taught in workshops. Nearly every student had at least one connection. Mark and Patrick agreed that small classes aren’t for everyone. They also noted that funding limits class sizes and that the large-school model leaves some students behind.

The scale of the field
Minnesota has about 540 alternative programs, more than its number of traditional high schools, serving over 100,000 students. They include ALCs (off-site, regional, with middle-level programs), ALPs (usually schools within a school), and contract alternatives (Minneapolis and St. Paul nonprofits, likely unique to Minnesota). Students choose to enroll but must meet one of about 12–13 state criteria. The most common at Knights Academy are credit deficiency and mental health needs.

Redefining achievement
The state’s shift from a seven-year to a four-year graduation rate has put many alternative schools on continuous improvement plans. MAAP plans to keep pushing for the seven-year rate. Both speakers argued that success should include better attendance, goal-setting, diplomas, and college enrollment. Knights Academy sent a record number of students to two-year colleges last year. Patrick shared how attendance incentives at Kenyon-Wanamingo helped a student named Zach recover credits.

Funding, enrollment, and advocacy

Enrollment is a new challenge, as many students leaving the main high school now choose online programs over alternative schools. Credit recovery funding also falls short, and increasing that formula is part of MAP’s legislative platform.

Patrick urged the field to tell its story better, including videos of students showing how far they’ve come. He noted these students will be part of society for the next 50 years. Mark highlighted MAP Stars, which brings a couple hundred students to the State Capitol each year to share their stories with legislators. Patrick added that local audiences matter too, including parents who see alternative programs as the easy way out.

The MAP Conference and upcoming events

• MAP Conference: February 3–5 in Mankato
• MAP Stars legislative day: February 24 at the State Capitol

Mark says the conference is what hooked him on alternative education. Staff in small programs often feel like islands, and three days with like-minded colleagues feels like a class reunion, since few people who love this work ever leave it. Patrick called it the best conference in Minnesota for any educator and encouraged New Tech High Schools to send teams.

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