Alberta has developed an innovative new way of measuring performance to ensure we continue to provide the best possible education opportunities for all of our students. This accountability framework, called the Accountability Pillar, recognizes and respects the outstanding work seen in our school authorities every day. It ensures school authorities receive the tools they need to identify areas of success and improvement, combined with the flexibility to determine how they can best address local challenges. The Accountability Pillar provides school authorities with a wide range of data that paints a picture of how they are performing. The framework focuses on more than student achievement, resulting in a more holistic approach to accountability. Other factors that impact student learning - such as safe and caring environments, parent involvement, and satisfaction with the education experience - are measured, providing a more complete perspective of the jurisdiction's overall learning environment. When combined, this data provides a picture of where school jurisdictions are now - including areas of success and challenges that lie ahead. In order to complete the picture, school authorities need to analyze the detailed data that underlies the Accountability Pillar evaluations and the many variables that may affect results. Jurisdictions report their Accountability Pillar results to their communities, ensuring that the entire education system is more open and accountable to all Albertans. At the same time, students, parents and teachers are invited to provide input and feedback, which strengthens their sense of ownership in the system and its successes.