Segment operating loss for the quarter ended August 31, 2010 decreased to a loss of $2.9 million, compared to a loss of $3.7 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, primarily related to the film distribution agreement noted above.
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.
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents, including cash from discontinued operations, totaled $124.2 million at August 31, 2010, compared to $244.1 million at May 31, 2010 and $54.2 million at August 31, 2009.
Cash used in operating activities increased by $17.5 million to $73.1 million for the three months ended August 31, 2010, compared to $55.6 million in the prior fiscal year period. In addition to the increased loss, adjusted for non-cash items of $7.0 million, the increase of $17.5 million was primarily related to unfavorable working capital changes which included:
Inventory increases resulted from the timing of purchases. Increases in other current assets were related to an increase in promotional spending, primarily in the Company’s book clubs business. These were offset by a lower increase in accounts receivable in the current year, primarily related to the prior year’s higher sales of educational technology products.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Cash used in investing activities increased by $5.6 million to $24.8 million for the three months ended August 31, 2010, compared to $19.2 million in the prior fiscal year period. This change was primarily related to increased investments in property, plant and equipment. In the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company is investing in an acquisition in theEducational Publishingsegment and the purchase of the real property underlying a portion of its principal offices in New York City, for approximately $36 million, as well as additional spending for property, plant and equipment and prepublication costs.
Cash used in financing activities was $23.4 million for the three months ended August 31, 2010, compared to $13.2 million for the prior fiscal year period. The change was primarily due to higher repurchases of Common Stock of $8.7 million in the fiscal 2011 first quarter, as well as a decrease in net borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit of $6.2 million, partially offset by a $4.1 million 5% Note repurchases in the prior year. On September 28, 2010, the Company commenced a share repurchase for up to $150 million of its Common Stock through a “Dutch auction” style tender offer (the “Tender Offer”).
Due to the seasonal nature of its business as discussed under “Seasonality” above, the Company usually experiences negative cash flows in the June through October time period. As a result of the Company’s business cycle, borrowings have historically increased during June, July and August, have generally peaked in September or October, and have been at their lowest point in May.
The Company’s operating philosophy is to use cash provided from operating activities to create value by paying down debt, reinvesting in existing businesses and, from time to time, making acquisitions that will complement its portfolio of businesses, as well as engaging in shareholder enhancement initiatives, such as share repurchases or dividend declarations. The Company believes that funds generated by its operations and funds available under its current credit facilities will be sufficient to finance its short-and long-term capital requirements, including the Tender Offer, for the foreseeable future.
On September 23, 2010, the Company announced its intention to proceed with a “Dutch auction” style Tender Offer to acquire up to $150 million of its common shares, to be funded from available cash balances, initially including temporarily drawing on the Company’s existing credit facility (see “Loan Agreement” below). The Tender Offer was commenced on September 28, 2010, pursuant to which the Company has offered to acquire up to $150 million of its common shares at not less than a minimum price of $27.00 per share and not more that a maximum price of $31.00 per share. The Tender Offer is only being made pursuant to the offering materials and related documentation as filed with the SEC, to which reference is hereby made.
The Company has maintained sufficient liquidity to fund ongoing operations, dividends, authorized common share repurchases, debt service, planned capital expenditures and other investments. As of August 31, 2010, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $124.2 million, cash from operations, and borrowings remaining available under the Revolving Loan (as described under “Financing” below) totaling $325.0 million. Approximately 66% of the Company’s outstanding debt is not due until fiscal 2013, 31% is spread ratably over each preceding period and the remaining 3% represents borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit. The Company may at any time, but in any event not more than once in any calendar year, request that the aggregate availability of credit under the Revolving Loan be increased by an amount of $10.0 million or an integral multiple of $10.0 million (but not to exceed $150.0 million). Accordingly, the Company believes these sources of liquidity are sufficient to finance its ongoing operating needs, as well as its financing and investing activities. The Company’s credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services is “BB-” and its credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service is “Ba2.” Moody’s Investors Service has rated the outlook for the Company as “Positive,” and Standard and Poor’s Rating Services has rated the outlook for the Company as “Stable.” The Company believes that existing committed credit lines, cash from operations and other sources of cash are sufficient to meet the Company’s liquidity needs for the near term, including any funds required for the Tender Offer, as the Company is currently compliant with its debt covenants and expects to remain compliant for the foreseeable future.
The Company’s interest rates for the Loan Agreement are associated with certain leverage ratios, and, accordingly, a change in the Company’s credit rating does not result in an increase in interest costs under the Company’s Loan Agreement.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Financing
Lines of Credit
As of August 31, 2010, the Company’s credit lines available under unsecured money market bid rate credit lines totaled $20.0 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under these credit lines at August 31, 2010, May 31, 2010 and August 31, 2009. All loans made under these credit lines are at the sole discretion of the lender and at an interest rate and term, not to exceed 180 days, agreed to at the time each loan is made.
As of August 31, 2010, the Company had various local currency credit lines, with maximum available borrowings in amounts equivalent to $28.3 million, underwritten by banks primarily in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. These credit lines are typically available for overdraft borrowings or loans up to 364 days and may be renewed, if requested by the Company, at the sole option of the lender. There were borrowings outstanding under these international facilities equivalent to $7.7 million at August 31, 2010 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.9%; $7.5 million at May 31, 2010 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.9%; and $13.4 million at August 31, 2009 at a weighted average interest rate of 2.9%.
Loan Agreement
On June 1, 2007, Scholastic Corporation and Scholastic Inc. (each, a “Borrower” and together, the “Borrowers”) entered into a $525.0 million credit facility with certain banks (the “Loan Agreement”), consisting of a $325.0 million revolving credit component (the “Revolving Loan”) and a $200.0 million amortizing term loan component (the “Term Loan”). The Loan Agreement is a contractually committed unsecured credit facility that is scheduled to expire on June 1, 2012. The $325.0 million Revolving Loan component allows the Company to borrow, repay or prepay and reborrow at any time prior to the stated maturity date, and the proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes, including financing for acquisitions and share repurchases. The Loan Agreement also provides for an increase in the aggregate Revolving Loan commitments of the lenders of up to an additional $150.0 million. The Term Loan, which may be prepaid at any time without penalty, requires quarterly principal payments of $10.7 million, with the first payment on December 31, 2007, and a final payment of $7.4 million due on June 1, 2012.
On August 16, 2010, the Borrowers entered into an amendment to the Loan Agreement, which added certain provisions related to covenants and interest.
Interest on both the Term Loan and Revolving Loan is due and payable in arrears on the last day of the interest period (defined as the period commencing on the date of the advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower at the time each advance is made). At the election of the Borrower, the interest rate charged for each loan made under the Loan Agreement, as amended, is based on (1) a rate equal to the higher of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the prevailing Federal Funds rate plus 0.500% or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for a one month interest period plus 1%; or (2) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin, ranging from 0.500% to 1.250% based upon the Company’s prevailing consolidated debt to total capital ratio. As of August 31, 2010, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Loan.
As of August 31, 2010, the applicable margin of the Term Loan was 0.750% and the applicable margin on the Revolving Loan was 0.600%. The Loan Agreement also provides for the payment of a facility fee ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% per annum on the Revolving Loan only, which at August 31, 2010, was 0.150%. As of August 31, 2010, $82.3 million was outstanding under the Term Loan at an interest rate of 1.1%.
As of August 31, 2010, there was $7.2 million of outstanding standby letters of credit issued under the Loan Agreement. The Loan Agreement contains certain covenants, including interest coverage and leverage ratio tests and certain limitations on the amount of dividends and other distributions, and at August 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. See Note 4 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements – unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements,” for outstanding balances and interest rates for these notes.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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5% Notes due 2013
In April 2003, Scholastic Corporation issued $175.0 million of 5% Notes (the “5% Notes”). The 5% Notes are senior unsecured obligations that mature on April 15, 2013. Interest on the 5% Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year through maturity. The Company may at any time redeem all or a portion of the 5% Notes at a redemption price (plus accrued interest to the date of the redemption) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest discounted to the date of redemption. The Company repurchased $5.0 million and $2.5 million of the 5% Notes on the open market in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company did not make any additional repurchases during the three-month period ended August 31, 2010.
The Company’s total debt obligations were $242.3 million at August 31, 2010, $252.8 million at May 31, 2010 and $290.6 million at August 31, 2009. The lower level of debt at August 31, 2010 as compared to May 31, 2010 and August 31, 2009 was primarily due to repayments made on the Term Loan, repurchases of the Company’s 5% Notes on the open market in fiscal 2010 and reduced borrowings resulting from lower debt requirements. The Company utilized existing cash balances in the first fiscal quarter of 2011 to meet seasonal working capital requirements. As a result, cash balances declined $119.9 million in such fiscal quarter.
For a more complete description of the Company’s debt obligations, see Note 4 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements – unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements.”
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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New Accounting Pronouncements
Reference is made to Note 1 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1, “Financial Statements,” for information concerning recent accounting pronouncements since the filing of the Company’s Annual Report.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Forward Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Additional written and oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) filings and otherwise. The Company cautions readers that results or expectations expressed by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to the Company’s future business prospects, plans, conditions in the children’s book and educational material markets and acceptance of the Company’s products in those markets, e-commerce and digital initiatives strategies, goals, revenues, improved efficiencies, general costs, manufacturing costs, medical costs, merit pay, operating margins, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, expected investing activity, interest costs and income, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, due to factors including those noted in the Annual Report and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
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The Company conducts its business in various foreign countries, and as such, its cash flows and earnings are subject to fluctuations from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company manages its exposures to this market risk through internally established procedures and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of short-term forward exchange contracts. As of August 31, 2010, these transactions were not significant. The Company does not enter into derivative transactions or use other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates, which are managed through the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate borrowings. Additionally, financial instruments, including swap agreements, have been used to manage interest rate exposures. Approximately 40% of the Company’s debt at August 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010 bore interest at a variable rate and was sensitive to changes in interest rates, compared to approximately 50% at August 31, 2009. The decrease in variable-rate debt as of August 31, 2010 and May 31, 2010, compared to August 31, 2009, was primarily due to repayments made on the Term Loan. The Company is subject to the risk that market interest rates and its cost of borrowing will increase and thereby increase the interest charged under its variable-rate debt.
Additional information relating to the Company’s outstanding financial instruments is included in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
The following table sets forth information about the Company’s debt instruments as of August 31, 2010 (see Note 4 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements - unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements”):
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($ amounts in millions) | | Fiscal Year Maturity | |
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| | 2011(1) | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | Thereafter | | Total | |
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Debt Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lines of Credit | | $ | 7.7 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 7.7 | |
Average interest rate | | | 3.9 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Long-term debt including current | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed-rate debt | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 153.0 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 153.0 | |
Average interest rate | | | | | | | | | 5.0 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Variable-rate debt | | $ | 32.1 | | $ | 42.8 | | $ | 7.4 | (3) | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 82.3 | |
Interest rate(2) | | | 1.1 | % | | 1.1 | % | | 1.1 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | 2011 includes the remaining nine months of the current fiscal year. |
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(2) | Represents the interest rate under the Term Loan at August 31, 2010; the interest rate is subject to change over the life of the Term Loan. |
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(3) | Represents the final payment under the Term Loan, which has a final maturity of June 1, 2012 but may be repaid at any time. |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures |
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The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, after conducting an evaluation, together with other members of the Company’s management, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as of August 31, 2010, have concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in its reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and accumulated and communicated to members of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There was no change in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended August 31, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
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The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of shares of Common Stock by the Corporation during the three months ended August 31, 2010:
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (Dollars in millions except per share amounts) | |
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Period | | Total number of shares purchased | | Average price paid per share | | Total cumulative number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | | Maximum number of shares (or approximate dollar value) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs(1) | |
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June 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 | | 123,800 | | | | $ | 24.84 | | | 123,800 | | | | $ | 7.1 | | |
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July 1, 2010 through July 31, 2010 | | 127,962 | | | | $ | 25.40 | | | 251,762 | | | | $ | 3.9 | | |
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August 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010 | | 136,664 | | | | $ | 24.72 | | | 388,426 | | | | $ | 0.5 | | |
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Total | | 388,426 | | | | $ | 24.98 | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | On December 16, 2009, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a new program to purchase up to $20.0 million of Common Stock, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or through negotiated private transactions. As of August 31, 2010, approximately $0.5 million remained of the current authorization. |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 6. Exhibits |
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Exhibits: | |
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4.1 | Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 16, 2010, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007, among the registrant and Scholastic Inc., as borrowers, the Initial Lenders named therein, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Bank of America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners, Bank of America, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as syndication agents, and SunTrust Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc as Documentation Agents. |
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31.1 | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2 | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32 | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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101.INS | XBRL Instance Document |
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101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
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101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document |
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101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document |
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101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document |
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101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION SIGNATURES |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| | SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
| | (Registrant) |
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Date: October 1, 2010 | By: | /s/ Richard Robinson |
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| | Richard Robinson |
| | Chairman of the Board, |
| | President and Chief |
| | Executive Officer |
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Date: October 1, 2010 | By: | /s/ Maureen O’Connell |
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| | Maureen O’Connell |
| | Executive Vice President, |
| | Chief Administrative Officer |
| | and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer) |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, DATED AUGUST 31, 2010 Exhibits Index |
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Exhibit Number | | Description of Document | |
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| 4.1 | | Amendment No. 1, dated as of August 16, 2010, to the Credit Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2007, among the registrant and Scholastic Inc., as borrowers, the Initial Lenders named therein, JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Bank of America Securities LLC, as joint lead arrangers and joint lead bookrunners, Bank of America, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as syndication agents, and SunTrust Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland, plc as Documentation Agents. |
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| 31.1 | | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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| 31.2 | | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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| 32 | | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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| 101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document * |
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| 101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document * |
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| 101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document * |
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| 101.DEF | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document * |
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| 101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document * |
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| 101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document * |
* In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed to be “furnished” and not “filed.”
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