The "Normal School Act of 1857" was passed on the last day of session on 20 May 1857. Its passage created 12 school districts. Afterward, the School Code of 1911 mandated that Pennsylvania purchase all the schools. The "normal" schools evolved from state normal schools, to state teacher's colleges, to state colleges. Act 188, which was signed into law on November 12, 1982 and came into effect on July 1, 1983, established the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, and converted those state colleges into universities.