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, 2017 (the “Annual Report”).

The Company’s fiscal year is not a calendar year. Accordingly, references in this document to fiscal 2017 relate to the twelve-month period ended May 31, 2017. Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to the current year presentation.

Seasonality

The Company’s Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution school-based book fair and book club channels and most of its Education businesses 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 channel and magazine revenues are minimal in the first quarter of the fiscal year as schools are not in session. Trade sales can vary through the year due to varying release dates of published titles. The Company generally experiences a loss from operations in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year.

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 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 tax contingencies


•	Royalty advance reserves


•	Unredeemed incentive programs


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


•	Assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations


•	Revenues for fairs which have not reported final results

New Accounting Pronouncements

Current Fiscal Quarter Adoptions:

ASU 2017-07

In March 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update (the "ASU") No. 2017-07, Compensation—Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The ASU requires entities to disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net periodic benefit costs and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement, and present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented. The amendments in this update also allow only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The ASU will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted.

The Company has elected an early application of this ASU in the first quarter of this fiscal year ending May 31, 2018. As such the service cost component of net periodic benefit costs is still recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses and the other components of net periodic benefit costs have been reclassified to Other components of net periodic benefit (cost) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations below Operating income (loss) on a retrospective basis. See Note 9, "Employee Benefit Plans," for net periodic (benefit) cost recognized in the periods presented.

ASU 2016-09

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The amendments in this ASU require, among other things, that all income tax effects of awards be recognized in the income statement when the awards vest or are settled. The ASU permits an employer to repurchase a higher number of employee's shares for tax withholding purposes without triggering liability accounting. The ASU also allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur.

The Company has adopted this ASU in the first quarter of this fiscal year ending May 31, 2018. The Company will continue to estimate forfeitures at the time of grant and will now recognize the income tax effects of awards as a component of the Provision (benefit) for income taxes in the condensed consolidated statements of operations on a prospective basis. For the three month period ended August 31, 2017, the Company recognized a tax deficiency of approximately $0.2.

ASU 2015-11

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory, as part of its Simplification Initiative. Currently, inventory is measured at the lower of cost using the first-in, first-out method or market. The amendments in this ASU require entities that measure inventory using any method other than last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method to measure inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. The amendments should be applied prospectively and earlier application is permitted as of the beginning of an interim or fiscal year period.

The Company has adopted this ASU in the first quarter of this fiscal year ending May 31, 2018. The amendments in this ASU did not have an impact on the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Forthcoming Adoptions:

Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB announced that it is amending the FASB Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") by issuing ASU 2014-09, Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (the "New Revenue Standard"). The amendments in this ASU provide a single model for use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersede current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific revenue guidance. The core principle of the new ASU is that revenue should be recognized 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 and services. New disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers are also required. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 which deferred the effective date of the New Revenue Standard. In 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-08, ASU 2016-10, ASU 2016-11, and ASU 2016-12 to clarify, among other things, the implementation guidance related to principal versus agent considerations, identifying performance obligations, and accounting for licenses of intellectual property. The amendments in this update are to be applied on a retrospective basis, either to each prior reporting period presented or by presenting the cumulative effect of applying the update recognized at the date of initial application.

The New Revenue Standard will be effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. The Company is evaluating the adoption methodology and the impact of these ASUs on its consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows, including assessing the impact of the guidance across all of its revenue streams. This includes a review of current accounting policies and practices to identify potential differences that would result from applying the guidance. While this evaluation is in progress, and the impact is not fully assessed, the Company believes this standard will result in changes relating to the reporting periods in which certain revenues associated with incentive programs within the Company's school channels are recognized.