Scholastic Corporation

Scholastic Corporation is a leading American multinational publishing, education, and media company renowned for its distribution of children's books, educational materials, and classroom magazines. Founded in 1920 by Maurice R. Robinson, the company has grown from a single classroom magazine into a global enterprise with significant operations in book fairs, book clubs, and trade publishing. Its headquarters are located in the New York City borough of Manhattan, and it is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol SCHL. The corporation is best known for publishing and distributing iconic series such as Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Captain Underpants, alongside its foundational classroom periodicals like Scholastic News.

History

The company was established in 1920 in Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, by Maurice R. Robinson, initially publishing a single magazine, *The Western Pennsylvania Scholastic*. It expanded its magazine offerings for schools throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including the launch of *Scholastic* magazine. A major turning point came in 1948 with the founding of the Scholastic Book Clubs division by Robinson's son, M. Richard Robinson Jr., which revolutionized direct-to-student book distribution. Under the leadership of M. Richard Robinson Jr., who became CEO in 1975, the company aggressively expanded into trade publishing, securing the U.S. rights to the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling in the late 1990s, a move that dramatically increased its global profile and financial success. The corporation became publicly traded on the NASDAQ in 1992. Following the death of M. Richard Robinson Jr. in 2021, Iole Lucchese was named Chairperson and Peter Warwick became President and CEO.

Operations and divisions

Its operations are organized into several core segments. The Scholastic Book Fairs division operates book fair events in tens of thousands of schools across the United States and internationally, serving as a major distribution channel. The Scholastic Book Clubs division, which includes clubs like Firefly Book Club and SeeSaw Book Club, continues its long-standing practice of facilitating student book orders through teachers. The Scholastic Education division produces comprehensive literacy programs, classroom magazines such as Scholastic News and Storyworks, and digital learning resources under brands like Scholastic Literacy. Its Trade Publishing arm, which includes imprints like Scholastic Press, Arthur A. Levine Books, and Graphix, publishes and distributes bestselling children's and young adult titles globally, including works by Dav Pilkey, Suzanne Collins, and Norman Bridwell.

Corporate affairs

It is incorporated in the state of Delaware and maintains its global headquarters at 557 Broadway in New York City's SoHo neighborhood. The company is governed by a Board of directors chaired by Iole Lucchese, with Peter Warwick serving as Chief Executive Officer. Major institutional shareholders have historically included The Vanguard Group and BlackRock. Its financial performance is closely tied to the cyclical school calendar and the success of its blockbuster publishing properties. The corporation also operates international subsidiaries in key markets including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Asia, and maintains major distribution centers in locations like Jefferson City, Missouri.

Controversies

The corporation has faced several controversies, primarily related to the content and curation of its book fairs and clubs. It has been criticized for offering books deemed by some groups as inappropriate for children, leading to periodic challenges from organizations like Moms for Liberty and local school boards. Specific titles, such as The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Melissa by Alex Gino, have been targeted for exclusion. In 2023, it faced significant backlash for its decision to create a separate, curated collection of books on race and LGBTQ+ topics for its book fairs, a policy it later reversed after criticism from authors including Amanda Gorman and the National Coalition Against Censorship. The company has also faced scrutiny over the commercial nature of its school book fairs and the socioeconomic disparities they can highlight.

See also

* Penguin Random House * HarperCollins * Simon & Schuster * American Library Association * Banned Books Week * Children's Book Council * Newbery Medal * Caldecott Medal

Category:Book publishing companies of the United States Category:Companies listed on the NASDAQ Category:Educational publishing companies Category:Companies based in Manhattan Category:1920 establishments in Pennsylvania