Funding of public schools — Declaration of policy.

In recognition of: The critical importance of high quality public education for all students in the District of Columbia; The need in District of Columbia public schools for smaller classes and supplemental instructional resources to address the needs of the many students requiring special attention; The need to attract and retain highly qualified teachers and principals; The need for District of Columbia public school graduates to possess educational skills that render them competitive with graduates of suburban schools as regards employment and higher education; The need to restore and repair school facilities throughout the District of Columbia; and The fact that in recent years the budget for the District of Columbia public schools has increased at a rate substantially below that of almost all other District of Columbia agencies: