The Department of Public Instruction¹ is authorized to educate blind children, residing in this Commonwealth, under the age of eight (8) years, whenever, from any cause, the parent or parents thereof may be unable properly to educate them. With the written consent of the parents, parent, or nearest relative, if there be no parents, or the local authorities of the proper institution district, if there be neither parents nor relatives, the Department of Public Instruction may contract with any nonsectarian institution in this State, or elsewhere, established for the education of the blind, whereby any such child may, at a cost not exceeding three dollars ($3) per day, to be paid by the Commonwealth, out of funds appropriated to the Department of Public Instruction for the education of blind children, be educated until it shall reach the age of eight (8) years. Such education may be continued beyond the age of eight (8) years, when, for physical, mental or other proper reasons, such child or children need special care for a longer period. The contract may be canceled and the child or children removed at any time by the Department of Public Instruction. The provisions of this section shall not repeal or modify any existing acts relative to the education of the blind.