Every deaf person between the ages of 3 and 21 years, who is a resident of the state and who meets the criteria set forth in this section, is entitled to an education in the California School for the Deaf free of charge.

Priority in admission to the California School for the Deaf shall be given to elementary age deaf minors residing in sparsely populated regions and to secondary age deaf minors in need of a high school program, for whom appropriate comprehensive educational facilities and services are not available or cannot be reasonably provided by their local school districts or county educational agencies.

The criteria of admission to California Schools for the Deaf and Blind shall be administratively determined by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.