(a) The county superintendent of schools in each county, with the approval of the county board of education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, shall have the authority to establish and maintain preschool programs and centers in the same manner and to the same extent as governing boards of school or community college districts, except that nothing in this section shall be construed as vesting in the county superintendents of schools any authority to alone effect the levy and collection of any county, school, or other local taxes for the support of any preschool programs.
(b) The establishment and maintenance of any preschool program by the county superintendent of schools shall be undertaken, subject to the prior approval of both the county board of education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, upon the application of one or more school districts under the county superintendent’s jurisdiction.