(a)
(1) Appropriations made by the General Assembly to the Public School Fund for the purposes of this subchapter shall be disbursed by the Department of Education in accordance with regulations promulgated by the State Board of Education.
(2) Such funds may be used to provide financial assistance to school districts operating programs for gifted and talented children and to fund supplemental programs for gifted and talented children operated by the department directly or through contract with other public or private agencies.
(3) All school districts are eligible to make application for payments under this subchapter, and two (2) or more districts may submit an application for a cooperative program.
(b)
(1) Specific eligibility requirements for gifted and talented programs in each school district shall be determined by the school district board of directors.
(2) In order to qualify for such financial assistance as may be available from the state, school district eligibility requirements must be consistent with the guidelines for gifted and talented programs adopted by the state board with the advice of the Advisory Council for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children.