Public schools shall be free to any person over five and under 20 years of age nonresident in a school district who is placed in the home of another person, who is resident in the district, by order of a court of competent jurisdiction of this state or by any society, agency or institution incorporated and located in this state having for its object the care and welfare of indigent, neglected or abandoned children, or children in danger of becoming delinquent, or any person who is a resident in any institution operated, by any such society, agency or corporation, on a nonprofit basis, whether or not such other person, society, agency or institution is compensated for keeping such person; but no district shall be required to take an unreasonable number of persons under this section except upon the order of the commissioner issued in accordance with rules established by the state board.
N.J.S. § 18A:38-2