The Legislature finds that because all children can learn at significantly higher levels, it is essential that the Legislature, the State Board of Education, the Department of Education, school administrative units, educators and parents provide children with schools that reflect high expectations and create conditions where these expectations can be met. Through a shared sense of accountability and a cooperative spirit among State Government, school administrative units, educators, parents, business persons, and the community, school administrative units and educators can develop and teach to high standards that will enable students to become productive and fulfilled members of society. The Legislature further finds that the system of learning results set forth in section 6209 and in department rules implementing that section and other curricular requirements will serve as a foundation for education reform, will promote assessment of student learning, will reinforce accountability and will encourage equity. The Legislature, therefore, encourages the State Board of Education, the Department of Education and school administrative units to employ a high degree of creativity in developing content standards and performance indicators and to explore a wide range of programs and options so that the standards adopted will reflect the highest possible expectations and assessments will be of the highest possible quality. The ultimate goal and intent of the Legislature is to ensure that the State's schools will enable today's students to gain the knowledge and skills necessary for postsecondary education, career and citizenship.   [PL 2007, c. 259, §4 (AMD).]