(a) The state board of education may adopt rules and regulations for the admission of students to the Kansas state school for the blind. Such students may be admitted as day students or as resident students.

(b) Every resident of the state who is within the age of eligibility for admission, as determined by the state board of education, and who is unable to materially benefit from attendance in the public schools because of visual impairment, as determined under article 9 of chapter 72 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, shall be entitled to admission to the Kansas state school for the blind. Nonresidents of the state may be admitted to the Kansas state school for the blind until maximum enrollment is attained so long as such admittance does not result in the exclusion of any eligible resident of the state from said school.