The education of students is fundamental to shaping a preferred provincial, national and global future. It is also essential in maintaining Alberta's standard of living and ensuring its global competitiveness. The education system must simultaneously prepare the citizens of tomorrow while equipping the students with the knowledge and skills they need to be successful in a rapidly changing economy and society. Alberta Education's three-year business plan provides direction for the future of education in Alberta. The initiatives in Alberta Education's three-year business plan describe directions that will help all its young people get the education they need. These initiatives reflect Alberta Education's leadership role in developing programs for students, setting standards for education, communicating these expectations to stakeholders and supporting improvements to meet student needs. The directions and initiatives outlined in the three-year business plan are reflected in the "Guide to Education: ECS to Grade 12" (the "Guide"). Schools have the responsibility to provide instructional programs that ensure students will meet the provincial high school completion requirements and are prepared for entry into the workplace or post-secondary studies. As well, schools are to ensure that students understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship and have the skills and attitudes to pursue learning throughout their lives. The "Guide" is developed by Alberta Education for the use of administrators, counsellors, teachers, and other parties engaged in the delivery of quality basic education. It is consistent with the objectives and underlying principles of the School Act and contains key requirements and other information for the implementation of education programming and the operation of schools. The "Guide" serves the following purposes: (1) to support Alberta Education's objective of providing consistent direction while encouraging flexibility and discretion at the local level; (2) to provide information about ECS to Grade 12 programs, education delivery, and achievement standards for students enrolled in Alberta schools; (3) to communicate information useful in organizing and operating Alberta schools to meet the needs of children/students; and (4) to serve as the key repository for the ministry's policies. Appended are: (1) Contacts and References; (2) Alberta High School Diploma Requirements Prior to 1994-1995; (3) Integrated Occupational Program (IOP) Certificate of Achievement Requirements Prior to 2006; and (4) Sample Notice and Student Exemption Forms: "Alberta Human Rights Act," Section 11.1. (Individual chapters contain footnotes.)