The assessment programs of Alberta Education (Canada) are described, and the principles that guide these programs are reviewed. Alberta is committed to authentic assessment in its three major assessment programs: (1) the Diploma Examinations Program for certification in specific courses at the end of high school; (2) the Achievement Testing Program for monitoring student achievement in grades 3, 6, and 9; and (3) the diagnostic evaluation programs. Three key principles in assessment in Alberta include: assessment is based on clear expectations for student performance; assessment recognizes the central role of language in learning; and assessment provides models for good teaching. To extend the range of student performance being assessed by the Achievement Testing Program, several types of performance-based assessment are being piloted in addition to written-response activities. A pilot project on the use of portfolios to systematically gather information on student achievement conducted in four classrooms (120 students) illustrates the continuing efforts of Alberta Education to provide authentic assessment of student achievement. Fourteen appendices contain individual descriptions of components of the testing programs, with some samples and scoring instructions. (SLD)