(a) It is hereby declared to be the policy of this Commonwealth that all persons shall have equal opportunities for education regardless of their race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability.

(b) Equality of educational opportunities requires that students, otherwise qualified, be admitted to certain educational institutions without regard to race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability.

(c) It is recognized that there is a fundamental American right for members of various religious faiths to establish and maintain educational institutions exclusively or primarily for students of their own religious faith. In such institutions students, otherwise qualified, should have equal opportunity to attend therein without discrimination because of race, color, ancestry, national origin, handicap or disability or, except as provided in section 9,¹ sex.

(d) This act shall be deemed an exercise of the police power of the Commonwealth for the protection of the public welfare, prosperity, health and peace of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.