Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2018

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Scholastic Corporation (the “Corporation”) and all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, “Scholastic” or the “Company”). Intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

The Company’s fiscal year is not a calendar year. Accordingly, references in this document to fiscal 2019 relate to the twelve-month period ending May 31, 2019.

Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year presentation.

Interim Financial Statements

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements (referred to as the “Financial Statements” herein) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information, and should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2018. The Financial Statements presented in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management, the Financial Statements reflect all adjustments, consisting solely of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.

Seasonality

The Company’s Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution school-based book fairs and book club channels and most of its Education businesses operate on a school-year basis; therefore, the Company’s business is highly seasonal. As a result, the Company’s revenues in the first and third quarters of the fiscal year are generally lower than its revenues in the other two fiscal quarters. Typically, school-based channel and classroom magazine revenues are minimal in the first quarter of the fiscal year as schools are not in session. Trade sales can vary through the year due to varying release dates of published titles. The Company generally experiences a loss from operations in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year.

Use of estimates

The preparation of these Financial Statements involves the use of estimates and assumptions by management, which affects the amounts reported in the Financial Statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience, current business factors, and various other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, all of which are necessary, in order to form a basis for determining the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities. Actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions. On an on-going basis, the Company evaluates the adequacy of its reserves and the estimates used in calculations, including, but not limited to:


•	Variable consideration related to anticipated returns


•	Accounts receivable allowance for doubtful accounts


•	Pension and other postretirement obligations


•	Uncertain tax positions


•	The timing and amount of future income taxes and related deductions


•	Inventory reserves


•	Cost of goods sold from book fair operations during interim periods based on estimated gross profit rates


•	Sales tax contingencies


•	Royalty advance reserves and royalty expense accruals


•	Impairment testing for goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets and investments


•	Assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations


•	Revenues for book fairs which have not reported final results


•	Allocation of transaction price to performance obligations

New Accounting Pronouncements

Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Refer to Note 2, Revenues, for a discussion of the Company's revenue recognition accounting following the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and related amendments, in the first quarter of fiscal 2019.

Forthcoming Adoptions:

ASU No. 2016-02. ASU No. 2018-10 and ASU No. 2018-11

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) which supersedes existing guidance on accounting for leases in ASC Topic 840, Leases. The amendments in this ASU, among other things, require lessees to account for leases as either finance leases or operating leases and generally requires all leases to be recorded on the balance sheet, through the recognition of right-of-use assets and corresponding lease liabilities. The lease liability should be measured at the present value of the lease payments over the lease term. The right-of-use asset should be measured at the lease liability amount, adjusted for lease prepayments, lease incentives received and lessee's initial direct costs (e.g., commissions). The guidance also requires specific qualitative and quantitative disclosures about leasing activities.

In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases and ASU No. 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which provides an additional (and optional) transition method whereby the new lease standard is applied at the adoption date and recognized as an adjustment to retained earnings.

ASU No. 2016-02, ASU No. 2018-10 and ASU No. 2018-11 are effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 and are required to be applied using the modified retrospective approach for all leases existing as of the effective date. Early adoption is permitted; however, the Company currently does not plan to adopt this standard early and it is evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The Company expects that the adoption will result in the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities related to its operating leases.