A bill codifying the flexible instructional days used in the Seneca Valley School District as a statewide option is progressing through the legislature.

On Tuesday, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted unanimously to approve the bill, sending it on to the House's education committee for consideration.

If passed into law, school districts could have a handful of work-from-home days at their disposal. In the event of closures, such as snow days, students in participating districts would complete packages of homework. Such days would count toward state mandated numbers of teaching days.

Seneca Valley is one of several school districts in the state that participated in a pilot program for flex days. It built its own program, which involves pre-made coursework delivered electronically through an online portal.

Administrators in the district have publicly repeated their hopes that the state legislature would turn the pilot program into a permanent Pennsylvania fixture, as the temporary program will end after this academic year.

If approved, the bill states, the Pennsylvania Department of Education would “issue guidance and establish a standard application form for a public school entity seeking to establish or renew a program.”

Participating school districts would have to report annually how effective it is.

The bill allows for districts to include up to five flex days a year.

Whether those days be conducted using online tools is up to school districts. If computers or the internet is a requirement, the district has to explain how it would make accommodations in its application, according to the bill.