It is the intent of the Legislature that program improvement schools be established throughout the state in not more than five separate schools in different districts, and in not more than all of the schools in one elementary district, to offer educational programs which are developed by the director and staff of such schools in cooperation with representatives of the local community, including the parents of children served by the school. It is the further intent of the Legislature that the programs established under the provisions of this chapter be designed to facilitate an evaluation of the effectiveness of promising instructional methods, techniques, and staffing patterns that are intended to improve the level of pupil achievement in the areas of reading and mathematics.