(1) For required action districts which have not demonstrated recent and significant progress toward the requirements for release under RCW 28A.657.100, the state board of education may direct that the district be assigned to Level II status of the required action process.

(2) Schools meeting their performance improvement goals, as required under WAC 180-105-020, for the all students group for two consecutive years, may also be deemed to have made recent and significant progress under this section. At the discretion of the state board of education, adjustments may be made to account for changes in standards or assessments, as well as fluctuation in the exit criteria over time due to a normative definition of "persistently lowest-achieving schools" as defined in WAC 392-501-720.

(3) Districts assigned by the state board of education as required action districts must be evaluated for exit under the same criteria used for their original designation into required action status; except, the board may, at its discretion, exit a district if subsequent changes in the exit criteria make them eligible for exit.