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. (Code 1981, § 20-3-602, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 1448, § 1.) 20-3-603. Definitions.