The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:

(1) It is in the best interests of the people of Alabama to provide all children with access to high quality public schools.

(2) It is necessary to continue to search for ways to strengthen the academic performance of elementary and secondary public school students.

(3) Different students learn differently and public schools should have the ability to customize programs to fit the needs of individual students.

(4) Those who know students best, parents and educators, make the best education-related decisions regarding their students.

(5) Parents and local educators have a right and responsibility to actively participate in the educational institutions that serve the children of Alabama.

(6) Public school programs, whenever possible, should be customized to fit the needs of individual children.

(7) Students of all backgrounds are entitled to access to a high quality education.

(8) Therefore, with this chapter, the Legislature intends to accomplish all of the following:

a. Provide school systems and communities with additional tools that may be used to better meet the educational needs of a diverse student population.

b. Encourage innovative educational ideas that improve student learning for students at all academic levels.

c. Empower educators to be nimble and strategic in their decisions on behalf of students.

d. Provide additional high quality educational options for all students, especially students in low performing schools.

e. Create public schools with freedom and flexibility in exchange for exceptional results.

f. Foster tools and strategies to close achievement gaps between high-performing and low-performing groups of public school students.