Education policy in the province of Alberta is set by Alberta Education, a ministry led by the province's minister of education. There are two key policies or ministerial orders that guide professional learning in Alberta. The Teaching Quality Standard outlines the knowledge, skills, and attributes that teachers are expected to possess. The standard specifies competencies for those teachers holding interim certificates (typically teachers in their first two years of practice) and permanent certificates. The Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation Policy aims to ensure that each teacher's ongoing actions, judgments, and decisions are in the best educational interests of students and support optimum learning. Partnerships and collaborations are at the heart of Alberta's implementation of high-quality professional learning. In September 2010, a partnership of stakeholders in the province released "A Guide to Support Implementation: Essential Conditions." Crafted with the aim to support the province's educational change efforts, the document describes the conditions that need to be addressed to ensure successful implementation of education initiatives. The document is based on a thorough review of current research and promising practices to help educators understand the characteristics and conditions necessary for successful implementation of any education endeavor.