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Description of the Business, Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

May. 31, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Corporation and all wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued operations

The Company closed or sold several operations during fiscal 2015 and 2013. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company sold its educational technology and services business, which, among other things, was engaged in the development and sale of technology-based reading and math improvement programs, as well as providing consulting and professional development services. Additionally during fiscal 2015, the Company completed a restructuring of the businesses comprising its former Media, Licensing and Advertising segment, including discontinuing its Soup2Nuts animation and audio production studio operations and Scholastic Interactive, as well as the print edition of a periodic consumer magazine. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company sold a facility that was previously classified as held for sale and also discontinued a computer club business which was previously included in the Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment and a subscription-based business which was previously reported in the former Media, Licensing and Advertising segment.

All of these businesses are classified as discontinued operations in the Company’s financial statements for all periods presented.

Use of estimates

The Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements involves the use of estimates and assumptions by management, which affects the amounts reported in the 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 reserves for returns


•	Accounts receivable allowance for doubtful accounts


•	Pension and other post-retirement obligations


•	Uncertain tax positions


•	Inventory reserves


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


•	Sales taxes


•	Royalty accruals and related advance reserves


•	Customer reward programs


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

Revenue recognition

The Company’s revenue recognition policies for its principal businesses are as follows:

School-Based Book Clubs – Revenue from school-based book clubs is recognized upon shipment of the products.

School-Based Book Fairs – Revenues associated with school-based book fairs are related to sales of product. Book fairs are typically run by schools and/or parent teacher organizations over a five business-day period. The amount of revenue recognized for each fair represents the net amount of cash collected at the fair. Revenue is fully recognized at the completion of the fair. At the end of reporting periods, the Company defers estimated revenue for those fairs that have not been completed as of the period end based on the number of fair days occurring after period end on a straight-line calculation of the full fair’s revenue.

Trade –Revenue from the sale of children’s books for distribution in the retail channel is primarily recognized when risks and benefits transfer to the customer, or when the product is on sale and available to the public. For newly published titles, the Company, on occasion, contractually agrees with its customers when the publication may be first offered for sale to the public, or an agreed upon “Strict Laydown Date.” For such titles, the risks and benefits of the publication are not deemed to be transferred to the customer until such time that the publication can contractually be sold to the public, and the Company defers revenue on sales of such titles until such time as the customer is permitted to sell the product to the public. Revenue for ebooks, which is the net amount received from the retailer, is generally recognized upon electronic delivery to the customer by the retailer.

A reserve for estimated returns is established at the time of sale and recognized as a reduction to revenue. Actual returns are charged to the reserve as received. The calculation of the reserve for estimated returns is based on historical return rates, sales patterns, type of product and expectations. Actual returns could differ from the Company’s estimate. A reserve for estimated bad debts is established at the time of sale and is based on the aggregate aging of accounts receivable and specific reserves on a customer-by-customer basis, where applicable.

Education (formerly Classroom and Supplemental Materials Publishing) – Revenue from the sale of educational materials is recognized upon shipment of the products, or upon acceptance of product by the customer depending on individual customer terms.

Film Production and Licensing – Revenue from the sale of film rights, principally for the home video and domestic and foreign television markets, is recognized when the film has been delivered and is available for showing or exploitation. Licensing revenue is recognized in accordance with royalty agreements at the time the licensed materials are available to the licensee and collections are reasonably assured.

Magazines – Revenue is deferred and recognized ratably over the subscription period, as the magazines are delivered.

Magazine Advertising – Revenue is recognized when the magazine is for sale and available to the subscribers.

Scholastic In-School Marketing – Revenue is recognized when the Company has satisfied its obligations under the program and the customer has acknowledged acceptance of the product or service. Certain revenues may be deferred pending future deliverables.

Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable are recognized net of allowances for doubtful accounts and reserves for returns. In the normal course of business, the Company extends credit to customers that satisfy predefined credit criteria. The Company is required to estimate the collectability of its receivables. Reserves for returns are based on historical return rates and sales patterns. In order to develop the estimate of returns that will be received subsequent to fiscal year end, management considers patterns of sales and returns in the months preceding the fiscal year end, as well as actual returns received subsequent to year end, available sell-through information and other return rate information that management believes is relevant. Allowances for doubtful accounts are established through the evaluation of accounts receivable aging and prior collection experience to estimate the ultimate collectability of these receivables. At the time the Company determines that a receivable balance, or any portion thereof, is deemed to be permanently uncollectible, the balance is then written off.

Inventories

Inventories, consisting principally of books, are stated at the lower of cost, using the first-in, first-out method, or market. The Company records a reserve for excess and obsolete inventory based upon a calculation using the historical usage rates, sales patterns of its products and specifically identified obsolete inventory.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are recognized on a straight-line basis, over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Buildings have an estimated useful life, for purposes of depreciation, of forty years. Capitalized software, net of accumulated amortization, was $21.1 and $33.1 at May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Capitalized software is depreciated over a period of three to seven years. Amortization expense for capitalized software was $17.7, $28.5 and $30.9 for the fiscal years ended May 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Furniture, fixtures and equipment are depreciated over periods not exceeding ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the life of the lease or the life of the assets, whichever is shorter. The Company evaluates the depreciation periods of property, plant and equipment to determine whether events or circumstances indicate that the asset’s carrying value is not recoverable or warrant revised estimates of useful lives. In fiscal 2015, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $4.6 related to the discontinuation of certain outdated technology platforms and a $2.9 impairment charge associated with the closure of the retail store located at the Company headquarters in New York City. In fiscal 2014, the Company recognized an impairment charge of $7.6 for assets related to Storia operating system-specific apps that are no longer supported due to the transition to a Storia streaming model.

The Company acquired 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, under a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") on February 28, 2014. The acquisition price under the Purchase Agreement was consideration of $255.7 (net $253.9 in cash), including closing costs. Prior to the acquisition, the Property was recognized by the Company as a capital lease. The Company recognized the difference between the purchase price and the carrying amount of the capital lease obligation as an adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset.

Leases

Lease agreements are evaluated to determine whether they are capital or operating leases. When substantially all of the risks and benefits of property ownership have been transferred to the Company, as determined by the test criteria in the current authoritative guidance, the lease is recognized as a capital lease.

Capital leases are capitalized at the lower of the net present value of the total amount of rent payable under the leasing agreement (excluding finance charges) or the fair market value of the leased asset. Capital lease assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis in Depreciation and amortization expense, over a period consistent with the Company’s normal depreciation policy for tangible fixed assets, but not exceeding the lease term. Interest charges are expensed over the period of the lease in relation to the carrying value of the capital lease obligation.

Rent expense for operating leases, which may include free rent or fixed escalation amounts in addition to minimum lease payments, is recognized on a straight-line basis over the duration of each lease term. Sublease income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the duration of each lease term. To the extent expected sublease income is less than expected rental payments the Company recognizes a current loss on the difference between the fair values of the sublease and the rental payments.

Prepublication costs

Prepublication costs are incurred in all of the Company’s reportable segments. Prepublication costs include costs incurred to create and develop the art, prepress, editorial, digital conversion and other content required for the creation of the master copy of a book or other media. Prepublication costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over a three-to-five-year period based on expected future revenues. The Company regularly reviews the recoverability of the capitalized costs based on expected future revenues.

Royalty advances

Royalty advances are incurred in all of the Company’s reportable segments, but are most prevalent in the Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment and enable the Company to obtain contractual commitments from authors to produce content. The Company regularly provides authors with advances against expected future royalty payments, often before the books are written. Upon publication and sale of the books or other media, the authors generally will not receive further royalty payments until the contractual royalties earned from sales of such books or other media exceed such advances.

Royalty advances are initially capitalized and subsequently expensed as related revenues are earned or when the Company determines future recovery through earndowns is not probable. The Company has a long history of providing authors with royalty advances, and it tracks each advance earned with respect to the sale of the related publication. The royalties earned are applied first against the remaining unearned portion of the advance. Historically, the longer the unearned portion of the advance remains outstanding, the less likely it is that the Company will recover the advance through the sale of the publication. The Company applies this historical experience to its existing outstanding royalty advances to estimate the likelihood of recoveries through earndowns. Additionally, the Company’s editorial staff regularly reviews its portfolio of royalty advances to determine if individual royalty advances are not recoverable through earndowns for discrete reasons, such as the death of an author prior to completion of a title or titles, a Company decision to not publish a title, poor market demand or other relevant factors that could impact recoverability.

Goodwill and intangible assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized and are reviewed for impairment annually as of May 31 or more frequently if impairment indicators arise.

With regard to goodwill, the Company compares the estimated fair values of its identified reporting units to the carrying values of their net assets. The Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair values of its identified reporting units are less than their carrying values. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount the Company performs the two-step test. For each of the reporting units, the estimated fair value is determined utilizing the expected present value of the projected future cash flows of the reporting unit, in addition to comparisons to similar companies. The Company reviews its definition of reporting units annually or more frequently if conditions indicate that the reporting units may change. The Company evaluates its operating segments to determine if there are components one level below the operating segment. A component is present if discrete financial information is available, and segment management regularly reviews the operating results of the business. If an operating segment only contains a single component, that component is determined to be a reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes. If an operating segment contains multiple components, the Company evaluates the economic characteristics of these components. Any components within an operating segment that share similar economic characteristics are aggregated and deemed to be a reporting unit for goodwill impairment testing purposes. Components within the same operating segment that do not share similar economic characteristics are deemed to be individual reporting units for goodwill impairment testing purposes. The Company has seven reporting units with goodwill subject to impairment testing.

With regard to other intangibles with indefinite lives, the Company determines the fair value by asset, which is then compared to its carrying value. The Company first performs a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the identified asset is less than its carrying value. If it is more likely than not that the fair value of the asset is less than its carrying amount, the Company performs a quantitative test. The estimated fair value is determined utilizing the expected present value of the projected future cash flows of the asset.

Intangible assets with definite lives consist principally of customer lists, covenants not to compete, and certain other intellectual property assets and are amortized over their expected useful lives. Customer lists are amortized on a straight-line basis over a five-year period, while covenants not to compete are amortized on a straight-line basis over their contractual term. Other intellectual property assets are amortized over their remaining useful lives, which range from five to ten years.

Income taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and the tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to enter into the determination of taxable income.

The Company believes that its taxable earnings, during the periods when the temporary differences giving rise to deferred tax assets become deductible or when tax benefit carryforwards may be utilized, should be sufficient to realize the related future income tax benefits. For those jurisdictions where the expiration date of the tax benefit carryforwards or the projected taxable earnings indicates that realization is not likely, the Company establishes a valuation allowance.

In assessing the need for a valuation allowance, the Company estimates future taxable earnings, with consideration for the feasibility of on-going tax planning strategies and the realizability of tax benefit carryforwards, to determine which deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized in the future. Valuation allowances related to deferred tax assets can be impacted by changes to tax laws, changes to statutory tax rates and future taxable earnings. In the event that actual results differ from these estimates in future periods, the Company may need to adjust the valuation allowance.

The Company accounts for uncertain tax positions using a two-step method. Recognition occurs when an entity concludes that a tax position, based solely on technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. If a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, the amount recognized is the largest amount of benefit, determined on a cumulative probability basis, which is more likely than not to be realized upon settlement. The Company assesses all income tax positions and adjusts its reserves against these positions periodically based upon these criteria. The Company also assesses potential penalties and interest associated with these tax positions, and includes these amounts as a component of income tax expense.

In calculating the provision for income taxes on an interim basis, the Company uses an estimate of the annual effective tax rate based upon the facts and circumstances known. The Company’s effective tax rate is based on expected income and statutory tax rates and permanent differences between financial statement and tax return income applicable to the Company in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates.

The Company assesses foreign investment levels periodically to determine if all or a portion of the Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries are indefinitely invested. If foreign investments are not expected to be indefinitely invested, the Company provides for income taxes on the portion that is not indefinitely invested.

Non-income Taxes

The Company is subject to tax examinations for sales-based taxes. A number of these examinations are ongoing and, in certain cases, have resulted in assessments from taxing authorities. Where a sales tax liability in respect to a jurisdiction is probable and can be reliably estimated, the Company has made accruals for these matters which are reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. These amounts are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements in Selling, general and administrative expenses. Future developments relating to the foregoing could result in adjustments being made to these accruals. In fiscal 2012, the Company recognized accruals of $19.7 based on assessments related to sales tax audits in two jurisdictions, which resulted in payments of $15.3 in fiscal 2013.

Unredeemed incentive credits

The Company employs incentive programs to encourage sponsor participation in its book clubs and book fairs. These programs allow the sponsors to accumulate credits which can then be redeemed for Company products or other items offered by the Company. The Company recognizes a liability for the estimated costs of providing these credits at the time of the recognition of revenue for the underlying purchases of Company product that resulted in the granting of the credits. As the credits are redeemed, such liability is reduced.

Pension obligations

Pension obligations – Scholastic Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries have defined benefit pension plans covering the majority of their employees who meet certain eligibility requirements. The Company’s pension plans and other post-retirement benefits are accounted for using actuarial valuations.

The Company’s pension calculations are based on three primary actuarial assumptions: the discount rate, the long-term expected rate of return on plan assets, and the anticipated rate of compensation increases. The discount rate is used in the measurement of the projected, accumulated and vested benefit obligations and the interest cost component of net periodic pension costs. The long-term expected return on plan assets is used to calculate the expected earnings from the investment or reinvestment of plan assets. The anticipated rate of compensation increase is used to estimate the increase in compensation for participants of the plan from their current age to their assumed retirement age. The estimated compensation amounts are used to determine the benefit obligations and the service cost. Pension benefits in the cash balance plan for employees located in the United States are based on formulas in which the employees’ balances are credited monthly with interest based on the average rate for one-year United States Treasury Bills plus 1%. Contribution credits are based on employees’ years of service and compensation levels during their employment periods for the periods prior to June 1, 2009. In fiscal 2015, the Company recorded a pretax settlement charge of $4.3 related to lump sum benefits paid for certain U.S. pension obligations.

Other post-retirement benefits – The Company provides post-retirement benefits, consisting of healthcare and life insurance benefits, to eligible retired United States-based employees. The post-retirement medical plan benefits are funded on a pay-as-you-go basis, with the Company paying a portion of the premium and the employee paying the remainder. The Company calculates the existing benefit obligation, based on the discount rate and the assumed health care cost trend rate. The discount rate is used in the measurement of the projected and accumulated benefit obligations and the interest cost component of net periodic post-retirement benefit cost. The assumed health care cost trend rate is used in the measurement of the long-term expected increase in medical claims.

Foreign currency translation

The Company’s non-United States dollar-denominated assets and liabilities are translated into United States dollars at prevailing rates at the balance sheet date and the revenues, costs and expenses are translated at the weighted average rates prevailing during each reporting period. Net gains or losses resulting from the translation of the foreign financial statements and the effect of exchange rate changes on long-term intercompany balances are accumulated and charged directly to the foreign currency translation adjustment component of stockholders’ equity until such time as the operations are substantially liquidated or sold. The Company assesses foreign investment levels periodically to determine if all or a portion of the Company’s investments in foreign subsidiaries are indefinitely invested.

Shipping and handling costs

Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling are classified as revenue. Costs incurred in shipping and handling are recognized in Cost of goods sold.

Advertising costs

The Company incurs costs for both direct-response and non-direct-response advertising. The Company capitalizes direct-response advertising costs for expenditures, primarily in its Classroom Magazines division. The asset is amortized on a cost-pool-by-cost-pool basis over the period during which the future benefits are expected to be received. Included in Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the balance sheet is $4.9 and $4.6 of capitalized advertising costs as of May 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company expenses non-direct-response advertising costs as incurred.

Stock-based compensation

The Company recognizes the cost of services received in exchange for any stock-based awards. The Company recognizes the cost on a straight-line basis over an award’s requisite service period, which is generally the vesting period, except for the grants to retirement-eligible employees, based on the award’s fair value at the date of grant.

The fair values of stock options granted by the Company are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The Company’s determination of the fair value of stock-based payment awards using this option-pricing model is affected by the price of the Common Stock as well as by assumptions regarding highly complex and subjective variables, including, but not limited to, the expected price volatility of the Common Stock over the terms of the awards, the risk-free interest rate, and actual and projected employee stock option exercise behaviors. Estimates of fair value are not intended to predict actual future events or the value that may ultimately be realized by those who receive these awards.

Forfeitures are estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods, if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates, in order to derive the Company’s best estimate of awards ultimately expected to vest. In determining the estimated forfeiture rates for stock-based awards, the Company annually conducts an assessment of the actual number of equity awards that have been forfeited previously. When estimating expected forfeitures, the Company considers factors such as the type of award, the employee class and historical experience. The estimate of stock-based awards that will ultimately be forfeited requires significant judgment and, to the extent that actual results or updated estimates differ from current estimates, such amounts will be recognized as a cumulative adjustment in the period such estimates are revised.

The table set forth below provides the estimated fair value of options granted by the Company during fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013 and the significant weighted average assumptions used in determining such fair value under the Black-Scholes option- pricing model. The average expected life represents an estimate of the period of time stock options are expected to remain outstanding based on the historical exercise behavior of the option grantees. The risk-free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve corresponding to the expected life in effect at the time of the grant. The volatility was estimated based on historical volatility corresponding to the expected life.



	2015			2014			2013
Estimated fair value of stock options granted	$	11.41		$	10.37		$	9.77
Assumptions:
Expected dividend yield	1.8		%	1.7		%	1.6		%
Expected stock price volatility	38.2		%	38.6		%	37.5		%
Risk-free interest rate	2.2		%	2.2		%	0.9		%
Expected life of options	6 years			6 years			6 years

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update 2015-07, Disclosures for Investments in Certain Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share (or its Equivalent) to Accounting Standards Codification 820, Fair Value Measurement, which permits a reporting entity, as a practical expedient, to measure the fair value of certain investments using the net asset value per share of the investment. Currently, investments valued using the practical expedient are categorized within the fair value hierarchy on the basis of:


•	whether the investment is redeemable with the investee at net asset value on the measurement date,


•	never redeemable with the investee at net asset value,


•	redeemable with the investee at net asset value at a future date.

For investments that are redeemable with the investee at a future date, a reporting entity must take into account the length of time until those investments become redeemable to determine the classification within the fair value hierarchy. Under the amendments in this update, investments for which fair value is measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) using the practical expedient should not be categorized in the fair value hierarchy. Investments that calculate net asset value per share (or its equivalent), but for which the practical expedient is not applied, will continue to be included in the fair value hierarchy. A reporting entity should continue to disclose information on investments for which fair value is measured at net asset value (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient to help users understand the nature and risks of the investments and whether the investments, if sold, are probable of being sold at amounts different from net asset value.

The amendments in this update are effective for public business entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. A reporting entity should apply the amendments retrospectively to all periods presented. The retrospective approach requires that an investment for which fair value is measured using the net asset value per share practical expedient be removed from the fair value hierarchy in all periods presented in an entity’s financial statements. Earlier application is permitted. The Company has not yet assessed the impact of this pronouncement.

In May 2014, the FASB announced that it is amending the FASB Accounting Standards Codification by issuing Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, at the same time as the International Accounting Standards Board (the "IASB") is issuing International Financial Reporting Standards 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The issuance of this authoritative guidance completes the joint effort by the FASB and the IASB to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue and improve financial reporting by creating common revenue recognition guidance. The authoritative guidance provides that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services.

To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:

• Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

• Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

• Step 3: Determine the transaction price.

• Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

• Step 5: Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Additionally, the guidance requires improved disclosures to help users of financial statements better understand the nature,

amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. The update provides guidance for transactions that are not

otherwise addressed comprehensively in authoritative guidance (for example, service revenue, contract modifications, and

licenses of intellectual property). The amendments in this update are to be applied on a retrospective basis, utilizing one of two

different methodologies. The amendments in this update are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December

15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the adoption methodology and the impact of this update on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In April 2014, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to the reporting of discontinued operations. The

amendments in this update address the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and enhance convergence of the FASB’s

and the IASB's reporting requirements for discontinued operations. The amendments revise the definition of discontinued

operations by limiting discontinued operations reporting to disposals of components of an entity that represent strategic shifts

that have (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results. The amendments also require expanded

disclosures for discontinued operations. The amendments are to be applied prospectively to all disposals (or classifications as

held for sale) of components of an entity that occur within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014, and interim

periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted, but only for disposals (or classifications as held for sale) that have not

been reported in financial statements previously issued or available for issuance. The Company has not chosen early adoption for its fiscal 2015 discontinued operations.