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, comprehensive income (loss) 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, 2013 (the “Annual Report”).

The Company’s fiscal year is not a calendar year. Accordingly, references in this document to fiscal 2013 relate to the twelve-month period ended May 31, 2013.

Reclassifications

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

Building Purchase

The Company entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") on January 21, 2014 to acquire its headquarters space (including land, building, fixtures and related personal property and leases) at 555 Broadway, New York, NY (the "Property") from its landlord, ISE 555 Broadway, LLC ("Landlord"). The closing under the Purchase Agreement occurred on February 28, 2014. The acquisition price under the Purchase Agreement was $253.9 in cash, including closing costs. Prior to the acquisition, the property was recorded by the Company as a capital lease.

Discontinued Operations

The Company closed certain operations during fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2013. All of these businesses are classified as discontinued operations in the Company’s financial statements. See Note 2, “Discontinued Operations,” for additional information. The Company did not discontinue any operations in the current fiscal year.

Seasonality

The Company’s Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution school-based book fair and book club channels 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 these school-based channel 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 and services are highest in the first and fourth quarters. The Company generally experiences a loss from operations in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year. Trade sales can vary through the year due to varying release dates of published titles.

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 for assessment and measurement, intangibles and other long-lived assets and investments.

Restricted Cash

The condensed consolidated balance sheets include restricted cash of $0.5, $1.0 and $1.6 at February 28, 2014, May 31, 2013 and February 28, 2013, respectively, which is reported in “Other current assets.”

New Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to the financial statement presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward exists to address diversity in practice in the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits.

An unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, should generally be presented in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward, except as follows:

To the extent a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction to settle any additional income taxes that would result from the disallowance of a tax position or the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction does not require the entity to use, and the entity does not intend to use, the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented in the financial statements as a liability and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The assessment of whether a deferred tax asset is available is based on the unrecognized tax benefit and deferred tax asset that exist at the reporting date and should be made presuming disallowance of the tax position at the reporting date. No new disclosures are required as a result of this update. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2013 for all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. This new guidance is not yet effective for the fiscal period covered by this quarterly report. The Company is evaluating the impact that this update will have on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.