The department of elementary and secondary education is authorized and empowered to provide for the visitation, inspection, and supervision of day and evening schools maintained under the provisions of this chapter, and the general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to defray the expenses of the visitation, inspection, and supervision, for meeting any appropriation as may be provided by the federal government for similar purposes, and for the promotion of Americanization; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of the sum, or so much of this sum as may from time to time be required, upon receipt by the controller of proper vouchers approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.