(1) The purposes of this part are to:
(a) expand personalized career and technical education opportunities for middle school and high school pupils;
(b) reduce out-of-pocket costs for pupils and families in support of a pupil's postsecondary success;
(c) empower pupils to actively engage in forming their postsecondary success path; and
(d) provide expanded flexibility to districts in supporting each pupil's postsecondary success path to align with each pupil's individual interests, passions, strengths, needs, and culture.
(2) The legislature intends to fulfill the purposes under subsection (1) by authorizing elected boards of school districts to develop initiatives using advanced opportunity aid that makes a prudent long-term investment in Montana youth by providing state funding for advanced educational opportunities and individualized pathways for career and postsecondary opportunities for pupils through career and technical education that allow pupils to accelerate and self-direct their learning.