JACKSON TWP — Students in the Seneca Valley School District will have an additional day of school next year under the calendar approved by the school board Monday night.

Students will have 178 days of classroom instruction, up from the 177 this year.

Because of that, teachers will have only three in-service days before the start of the school year on Aug. 25. This school year they had four days of in-service before school started.

Superintendent Tracy Vitale said the added day of instruction was approved after teachers requested more time with students in the classroom.

That extra day will help teachers prepare students for standardized tests like the Keystone Exam, she said.

“With all the tests and added accountability, the teachers wanted the kids back in the class room as much as possible,” Vitale said.

Another change in the calendar will see students start the school year on a traditional five-day week.

Vitale said this is the first time in several years the district has decided to start students off with a full week, but added it was necessary because of scheduling conflicts around Christmas and New Year's Day.

For students looking ahead, the Class of 2015 is tentatively scheduled to graduate on May 29, barring any snow days.