(1) NAME.—Chapters 1000 through 1013 shall be known and cited as the “Florida Early Learning-20 Education Code.”
(2) LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION.—The provisions of the Florida Early Learning-20 Education Code shall be liberally construed to the end that its objectives may be effected. It is the legislative intent that if any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or provision of the Florida Early Learning-20 Education Code is held invalid, the remainder of the code shall not be affected.
(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Florida Early Learning-20 Education Code is to provide by law for a state system of schools, courses, classes, and educational institutions and services adequate to allow, for all Florida’s students, the opportunity to obtain a high quality education. The Florida Early Learning-20 education system is established to accomplish this purpose; however, nothing in this code shall be construed to require the provision of free public education beyond grade 12.
(4) UNIFORM SYSTEM OF PUBLIC K-12 SCHOOLS INCLUDED.—As required by s. 1, Art. IX of the State Constitution, the Florida Early Learning-20 education system shall include the uniform system of free public K-12 schools. These public K-12 schools shall provide 13 consecutive years of instruction, beginning with kindergarten, and shall also provide such instruction for students with disabilities, gifted students, limited English proficient students, and students in Department of Juvenile Justice programs as may be required by law. The funds for support and maintenance of the uniform system of free public K-12 schools shall be derived from state, district, federal, and other lawful sources or combinations of sources, including any fees charged nonresidents as provided by law.