A. It is the intent of the legislature to establish an independent, residential, public school as a pilot school for certain at-risk students in grades six through twelve with the express purpose of providing a more challenging educational experience to develop students to their full potential through high expectations, personal support, and educationally enriching activities.
B. The legislature finds that an independent, residential school for at-risk students of this age can be an important cost-saving measure for the state because research shows that investing in education for at-risk students in this kind of setting can lead to greater academic success which can strengthen the future economy if those students avoid dropping out of high school, resulting in less likelihood of unemployment, reliance on social-welfare programs, and imprisonment.