The final phase of the updated public education professionals evaluation system will be implemented during the 2012–13 school year with 264 local education agencies, consisting of 1,387 school buildings, 1,892 principals/supervisors and more than 31,600 teachers included In advocating for the new evaluation system, Secretary of Education Ronald Tomalis reported that research demonstrated that the performance of an educator has a direct impact on the future success of students. The new evaluation system will become effective for teachers and principals in the 2014–15 school year. Pennsylvania will join at least 22 states in using student achievement to evaluate educators.