The Legislature finds and declares that because of home, community, environmental and other conditions which give rise to language, cultural and economic disadvantages, the latent talents of many minors in the elementary and secondary schools in the state remain undiscovered and are not adequately developed by the general educational programs afforded by the public school system and private schools or school systems. It is the intent and purpose of the Legislature to encourage the establishment and development, by local officers and agencies of the public school system, of programs directed to identifying those pupils affected by language, cultural, and economic disadvantages who are potentially capable of completing the regular courses of instruction leading to graduation from the public elementary and secondary schools, and by special services, techniques, and activities to stimulating their interest in intellectual and educational attainment.

It is further recognized that to combat effectively the evils of such disadvantage a comprehensive, communitywide and statewide cooperative effort will be required together with a marshaling of all public and private resources and aids which may be useful in the endeavor. Securing cooperation, unity of action, and the concentration and effective direction of available outside resources and aids, public and private, should be an essential element of the programs for compensatory education, at both the state and local levels.

The Legislature finds that such special undertakings are essential to the conservation and development of the cultural, economic and intellectual resources of the state and nation. The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to carry out these intents and purposes.

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to sanction, perpetuate or promote the racial or ethnic segregation of pupils in the public schools.

(Enacted by Stats. 1976, Ch. 1010.)