Basis of Presentation

6 Months Ended

Nov. 30, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1. Basis of Presentation

Principles of consolidation

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. These financial statements have not been audited but reflect those adjustments consisting of normal recurring items that management considers necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2011 (the “Annual Report”).

The Company’s fiscal year is not a calendar year. Accordingly, references in this document to fiscal 2011 relate to the twelve month period ended May 31, 2011.

Change in Reportable Segments

During the quarter ended August 31, 2011, the Company determined that its reportable segment structure is now comprised of five reportable segments:

• Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution

• Educational Technology and Services

• Classroom and Supplemental Materials Publishing

• Media, Licensing and Advertising

• International

Accordingly, the Company has presented segment data in prior periods consistent with this change in reportable segments.

Discontinued Operations

The Company closed or sold several operations during fiscal 2009, fiscal 2010 and the first quarter of fiscal 2012, and presently holds for sale one facility. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company ceased operations in its direct-to-home catalog business specializing in toys. This business was a separate reporting unit included in the Media, Licensing and Advertising segment and is now classified as a discontinued operation in the Company’s financial statements. Reference is made to Note 2, “Discontinued Operations,” for additional information concerning discontinued operations.

Seasonality

The Company’s school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs and most of its magazines 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 generally are lower than its revenues in the other two fiscal quarters. Typically, school-based book club and book fair revenues are greatest in the second and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, while revenues from the sale of instructional materials and educational technology products are highest in the first and fourth quarters. The Company typically experiences losses from operations in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. Due to the seasonal fluctuations that occur, the November 30, 2010 condensed consolidated balance sheet is included for comparative purposes.

Use of estimates

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Regulation S-X. The preparation of these financial statements involves the use of estimates and assumptions by management, which affects the amounts reported in the condensed consolidated 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 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:

• Accounts receivable, returns and allowances

• Pension and other post-retirement obligations

• Uncertain tax positions

• Inventory reserves

• Gross profits for book fair operations during interim periods

• Sales taxes

• Royalty advance reserves

• Customer reward programs

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

Restricted Cash

The condensed consolidated balance sheets include restricted cash of $0.5, $0.5 and $1.3 at November 30, 2011, May 31, 2011 and November 30, 2010, respectively, which is reported in “Other current assets.”

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to fair value measurements. The amendments will add new disclosures, with a particular focus on Level 3 measurements. The objective of these amendments is to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The disclosure amendments in this update are to be applied prospectively and are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application is not permitted.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an update related to the reporting of other comprehensive income. The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to goodwill impairment testing. The updated guidance gives companies the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The guidance provides companies with a revised list of examples of events and circumstances to consider, in their totality, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If a company concludes that this is the case, it must perform the two-step test. Otherwise, a company can skip the two-step test. Companies are not required to perform the qualitative assessment and are permitted to skip the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to Step 1 of the test. A company that validates its conclusion by measuring fair value can resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted.