In light of the findings described in Code Section 20-3-601, the General Assembly declares that the purposes of the Georgia Education Trust created by this article are:

(1) To encourage education and the means of education;

(2) To maintain state institutions of higher education by helping to provide a stable financial base to these institutions;

(3) To provide wide and affordable access to state institutions of higher education for the residents of this state;

(4) To encourage attendance at state institutions of higher education;

(5) To provide students and their parents economic protection against rising tuition costs;

(6) To provide students and their parents financial assistance for postsecondary education;

(7) To help provide the benefits of higher education to the people of this state; and

(8) To encourage elementary and secondary students in this state to achieve high standards of performance.