It is declared that for the benefit of the people of the State of Illinois, the conduct and increase of their commerce, the protection and enhancement of their welfare, the development of continued prosperity and the improvement of their health and living conditions, it is essential that this and future generations of youth be given the fullest opportunity to learn and to develop their intellectual and mental capacities and skills; that to achieve these ends it is of the utmost importance that students attending institutions of higher education located in Illinois have reasonable alternatives to enhance their financial access to such institutions; that reasonable financial access to institutions of higher education will assist such youth in achieving the required levels of learning and development of their intellectual and mental capacities and skills; that it is the purpose of this Act to provide a measure of assistance and an alternative method to enable students and the families of students attending institutions of higher education located in Illinois to appropriately and prudently finance the cost or a portion of the cost of such higher education; and that it is the intent of this Act to supplement federal guaranteed higher education loan programs, other student loan programs, and grant or scholarship programs to provide the needed additional options for the financing of a student’s higher education in execution of the public policy set forth above.