Scholastic Pledges Over $1 Million Worth of Books and Professional Learning Opportunities at White House Early Learning Event Held Today

NEW YORK, Dec. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children's publishing, education, and media company, announced today its commitment to provide in-kind donations of more than $1 million worth of books from The Scholastic Possible Fund, along with professional learning opportunities for the awardees of the Preschool Development Grants and Early Head Start Partnership Grants, presented today by President Obama at the White House. This commitment, in support of the "Invest in Us" initiative, reflects the Company's long-standing support for children during the first five years of life which offer a critical window for learning, and its belief that investments in high-quality early learning programs will have long-term benefits both for young children and for the country as a whole. Learn more about Scholastic's ongoing efforts to support language development and early learning opportunities for very young children both in school and at home at:  www.scholastic.com/earlylearning.

The Scholastic commitment will have two components:

1.)    As part of the "Open a World of Possible" initiative, Scholastic will donate a PreK classroom library, consisting of 300 board books for ages 0 to 3, to every Early Head Start Child Care Partnership awardee; approximately 300 early childhood centers will receive a total of 90,000 books from The Scholastic Possible Fund through this commitment.

2.)    In addition, Scholastic will provide professional learning opportunities for Preschool Development Grant awardees to give early childhood education providers and leaders with up to date information about those practices which will lead to rich and joyful learning for young children. Scholastic Professional Learning Summits will take place in five locations across the country and will include Scholastic experts and featured speakers.

"We congratulate all of the grantees announced today and are pleased to pledge our support in recognition of their dedicated service to our youngest and most vulnerable children," said Dick Robinson, Chairman, president and CEO, Scholastic. "Scholastic is known for our belief that learning to read is the gateway to success in school and life, and that access to books and frequent reading aloud with young children can 'Open a World of Possible,' lighting an emotional spark within children that motivates them to become lifelong readers and learners."

Robinson continued, "Our goal with this commitment is to provide early childhood educators with quality professional learning and to help ensure that children, at this critical age, have access to the kind of quality books, in multiple languages and with multicultural themes, which are critical building blocks for kindergarten readiness."

This commitment is a continuation of efforts Scholastic has made this year to heighten awareness of the importance of early learning.

• This summer, Scholastic joined with Too Small to Fail, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Reach Out and Read to raise awareness about early language development and the importance of reading aloud to children from birth and provided half a million books from The Scholastic Possible Fund in support of the initiative.
• In addition, Scholastic CEO Dick Robinson joined the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood, a national network of senior business executives focused on strategic investments in children that are proven to promote workforce development and economic growth.

About Scholastic

Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children's media. Scholastic creates quality books and ebooks, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home.  The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100907/SCHOLASTICLOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scholastic-pledges-over-1-million-worth-of-books-and-professional-learning-opportunities-at-white-house-early-learning-event-held-today-300007434.html

SOURCE Scholastic