Scholastic Introduces Customizable, Comprehensive Literacy Solutions for New School Year

Although Scholastic recently sold several of its edtech properties to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, including READ 180, iRead, and MATH 180, the publisher is not entirely out of the education services game, writes CEO Richard Robinson in a recent letter to clients. “With that sale now complete, I would like to update you on the focus, capability, and exciting future of Scholastic Education—our ongoing education business which includes familiar programs such as Classroom Magazines and Guided Reading, as well as pre-K to 8 instructional literacy programs, supported by professional learning services, and digital subscription programs in reading and in the content areas.”

The new focus for Scholastic Education is its Comprehensive Literacy Solutions, writes Robinson, which comprises a set of customizable solutions for schools and educators. Those solutions include guided and leveled reading, custom curriculum, and print and digital resources as well as consulting services and professional learning for educators. Scholastic is focusing these services in four areas: instructional reading and writing, professional learning, family and community engagement, and independent reading.

A press release published yesterday shares the details of these initiatives. To improve instructional reading and writing Scholastic will provide “curriculum mapping and pacing tools that will allow [Scholastic Education] to meet the diverse needs of individual districts, schools, and educators,” the press release reports.

Scholastic has partnered with literacy and education experts to improve professional learning and will publish a number of titles by these experts throughout the school year. The first of these titles will be Every Child a Super Reader, by Pam Allyn and Ernest Morrell.

Family & Community Engagement, or FACE, is an initiative Scholastic launched in 2007 to engage communities in order to encourage reading outside of the classroom. The publisher is expanding this mission by organizing a three-day workshop for educators, parents, and community leaders, led by senior lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Education Dr. Karen Mapp.

Finally, Scholastic is bringing greater focus to independent reading through its classroom libraries and expanded ebook subscription services like Storia and BookFlix.

Mentioned throughout Robinson’s letter and the press release is the word “custom,” which signals the publisher’s greater focus on consultation and partnership with schools and school districts.

Read the full press release here.