It is the intention of the Legislature to provide for the improvement of the public schools of Oklahoma:

(a) by increasing the amount of state financial aid to local school districts;

(b) by encouraging local school districts to make a maximum effort to increase their local financial support of their own public schools in each such school district;

(c) by encouraging local school districts to initiate and maintain free public kindergartens without compelling such kindergartens;

(d) by basing state financial aid upon the child and not upon the classroom unit, the teacher or any other factor;

(e) by strengthening the partnership between the state and the local school districts in the fulfillment of their joint obligation to provide education for Oklahoma's children; and

(f) by preserving the autonomy of each local school district and the citizens thereof to decide the kind and quality of education to be provided for the children of that district.

It is the further intention of the Legislature to increase and improve the educational opportunities of the children of Oklahoma through increased financial support of the public schools in order to allow local school districts more ample funds:

(a) to increase the compensation of teachers;

(b) to reduce the nonteaching duties of teachers;

(c) to reduce class sizes;

(d) to improve, enlarge and enrich curriculum;

(e) to provide special education for children with learning disabilities; and

(f) to encourage local school districts to initiate and maintain free public kindergartens without compelling such, while preserving to each local school district and the citizens thereof a maximum autonomy in determining which needs are most important and the priorities of such needs as to available funds. This Act should be administered, interpreted and construed liberally to effectuate these purposes.

Laws 1968, c. 48, § 2, eff. July 1, 1968.