The State Board of Education, within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act, shall adopt standards for approval of administrative units comprised of those school districts which are not in an administrative unit established as a school district under section 296 of the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L. 30), as amended,¹ taking into account the following factors: topography, pupil population, community characteristics, transportation of pupils, use of existing school buildings, existing administrative units, potential population changes and the capability of providing a comprehensive program of education.