(1) The superintendent of public instruction shall recommend to the state board of education school districts for designation as required action districts.

(2) The recommendations for designation of required action districts shall occur each year in March, or at a time mutually agreeable to the state board of education and the superintendent of public instruction.

(3) Only districts with one or more schools identified as a persistently lowest achieving school may be recommended as a required action district.

(4) The number of districts recommended for designation as a required action district will be based on:

(a) Prioritization, as described in WAC 392-503-130; and

(b) Availability of federal and state funds to meet the identified needs of the recommended districts.