Subject to the provisions of this article, the State Department of Education acting by and through the Director of Education is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement, or agreements, with the Veterans Administration, or any other agency of the federal government, for the education of veterans in any of the schools of the public school system, except the California State University. The contract shall provide for the payment to the schools through the State Department of Education or otherwise of the maximum amount permitted by the act, or acts, of Congress under which the agreement, or agreements, is entered into by the Veterans Administration, or any other agency of the federal government.