(a) The Board of Education of any county shall have authority to provide classes and programs for adult education and to charge tuition for members of such classes and/or programs, such tuitions not to exceed in any case the actual cost of operation of such classes and/or programs. The county board of education shall also have authority to enter into contracts of agreement with authorized agencies of the federal government for the education of adults and to provide, assemble and house materials and equipment for efficient instruction in any and all such classes and/or programs, contract for instruction for the term of the class and/or program to be offered, and to use school facilities by way of buildings and equipment under the control of said board. Any funds accruing from such tuitions shall be credited to adult education in the current expense fund of the county board of education and reported each year as of June thirtieth in the manner required for other financial reports of the board.
(b) Student assistance loans for attendance in adult education classes and/or programs shall be available in accordance with the applicable provisions of article twenty-two-d of this chapter to an eligible student pursuant to regulations promulgated by the state Board of Education, who shall administer such loan program as it relates to adult education classes and/or programs, and who shall stand in the place of the board of regents for purposes of loans received pursuant to this section. The limitations on investment provided for in section four of said article twenty-two-d shall remain in full force and effect.
State board regulations shall be in accordance with the provisions of article twenty-two-d to the extent practicable, except that the regulations shall provide for the following:
(1) The eligible student must be a high school graduate or equivalent or must be eighteen years of age;