Any school district which agrees to provide special education, as part of a long-term regional plan approved by the State Board of Education, for children requiring special education who reside in other school districts or a private academy, as defined in section 10-289d, which agrees to provide special education, as part of a long-term regional plan approved by the State Board of Education, for children requiring special education shall be eligible to receive a grant, through progress payments in accordance with the provisions of section 10-287i, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 173, which payments shall total an amount equal to eighty per cent of the net eligible cost to such district or to such academy of purchasing, constructing or reconstructing appropriate facilities to be used primarily for children requiring special education and equipping and furnishing of any such purchase, construction or reconstruction.