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Document And Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - shares	Aug. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
Entity Registrant Name	SCHOLASTIC CORP
Document Type	10-Q
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--05-31
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0000866729
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Document Period End Date	Aug. 31, 2011
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Common Stock [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		29,557,830
Common Class A [Member]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		1,656,200

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Revenues	$ 318.0	$ 290.4
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	160.4	147.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)	171.0	170.0
Bad debt expense	1.4	2.9
Depreciation and amortization	15.1	14.4
Severance	3.3	2.1
Total operating costs and expenses	351.2	336.7
Operating loss	(33.2)	(46.3)
Interest expense, net	(3.9)	(3.8)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(37.1)	(50.1)
Benefit from income taxes	(12.0)	(16.2)
Loss from continuing operations	(25.1)	(33.9)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2.0)	(1.3)
Net loss	$ (27.1)	$ (35.2)
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	$ (0.81)	$ (0.94)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in Dollars per share)	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net loss (in Dollars per share)	(0.87)	(0.98)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (in Dollars per share)	(0.81)	(0.94)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (in Dollars per share)	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net loss (in Dollars per share)	(0.87)	(0.98)
Dividends declared per common share (in Dollars per share)	$ 0.100	$ 0.075

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Common Class A [Member]
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common Stock, $.01 par value	$ 0.0	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Cash and cash equivalents	33.7	105.3	124.2
Accounts receivable, net	217.1	220.3	212.4
Inventories, net	422.8	308.7	429.8
Deferred income taxes	56.2	56.2	59.7
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	100.3	57.1	80.8
Current assets of discontinued operations	9.6	10.5	18.4
Total current assets	839.7	758.1	925.3
Property, plant and equipment, net	331.3	339.0	321.0
Prepublication costs	116.9	117.7	109.1
Royalty advances, net	34.6	35.5	37.9
Production costs	7.5	7.4	7.2
Goodwill	154.2	154.2	156.6
Other intangibles	19.4	19.8	15.4
Noncurrent deferred income taxes	20.2	20.2	33.0
Other assets and deferred charges	35.3	35.1	37.8
Total assets	1,559.1	1,487.0	1,643.3
Lines of credit, short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt	47.4	43.5	50.5
Capital lease obligations	0.5	0.5	0.9
Accounts payable	181.2	120.1	177.0
Accrued royalties	52.7	35.4	56.3
Deferred revenue	75.9	49.1	59.8
Other accrued expenses	169.7	173.3	138.9
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	1.2	0.8	3.9
Total current liabilities	528.6	422.7	487.3
Long-term debt	152.6	159.9	191.8
Capital lease obligations	55.3	55.0	55.1
Other noncurrent liabilities	107.5	109.4	116.8
Total noncurrent liabilities	315.4	324.3	363.7
Commitments and Contingencies:
Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value
Common Stock, $.01 par value	0.4	0.4	0.4
Additional paid-in capital	578.2	576.6	574.5
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(52.1)	(53.9)	(81.6)
Retained earnings	605.6	635.8	569.9
Treasury stock at cost	(417.0)	(418.9)	(270.9)
Total stockholders’ equity	715.1	740.0	792.3
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$ 1,559.1	$ 1,487.0	$ 1,643.3

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parentheticals) - $ / shares	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Common Class A [Member]
Common Stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, par value	1.00	1.00	1.00
Common Stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ 0.01

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Cash flows (used in) provided by operating activities:
Net loss	$ (27.1)	$ (35.2)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2.0)	(1.3)
Loss from continuing operations	(25.1)	(33.9)
Adjustments to reconcile loss from continuing operations to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of continuing operations:
Provision for losses on accounts receivable	1.4	2.9
Provision for losses on inventory	5.9	6.3
Provision for losses on royalty advances	1.2	1.4
Amortization of prepublication and production costs	11.9	12.1
Depreciation and amortization	15.1	14.4
Deferred income taxes		1.0
Stock-based compensation	2.2	5.3
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	2.0	(1.0)
Inventories	(121.3)	(120.2)
Prepaid and other current assets	(24.3)	(22.2)
Deferred promotion costs	(4.3)	(6.0)
Royalty advances	(0.3)	(1.1)
Accounts payable	60.7	75.1
Other accrued expenses	(18.3)	(33.3)
Accrued royalties	17.3	13.8
Deferred revenue	26.8	19.9
Pension and post-retirement liability	(0.7)	(2.9)
Other noncurrent liability	(0.4)
Other, net	0.6	1.0
Total adjustments	(24.5)	(33.5)
Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations	(49.6)	(67.4)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations	0.3	(5.7)
Net cash used in operating activities	(49.3)	(73.1)
Cash flows used in investing activities:
Prepublication and production expenditures	(11.5)	(10.8)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(7.2)	(13.0)
Acquisition related payments		(1.0)
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations	(18.7)	(24.8)
Cash flows (used in) provided by financing activities:
Repayment of term loan	(10.7)	(10.7)
Borrowings under lines of credit	18.5	12.6
Repayment under lines of credit	(9.6)	(12.6)
Repayment of capital lease obligations	(0.1)	(0.3)
Reacquisition of common stock		(9.7)
Proceeds pursuant to stock-based compensation plans	1.3
Payment of dividends	(3.1)	(2.7)
Other	(0.3)
Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations	(4.0)	(23.4)
Net cash used in financing activities	(4.0)	(23.4)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0.4	1.4
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(71.6)	(119.9)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	105.3	244.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 33.7	$ 124.2

Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Aug. 31, 2011

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block]

1. 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”). All significant 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 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, 2011 (the “Annual Report”).

The Company’s fiscal year is not a calendar year. Accordingly, references in this document to fiscal 2011 relate to the twelve- month period ended May 31, 2011.

Change in Reportable Segments

During the quarter ended August 31, 2011, the Company determined that its reportable segment structure is now comprised of five reportable segments:


	•	Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution
	•	Educational Technology and Services
	•	Classroom and Supplemental Materials Publishing
	•	Media, Licensing and Advertising
	•	International

Accordingly, the Company has presented segment data in prior periods consistent with this change in reportable segments.

Discontinued Operations

The Company closed or sold several operations during fiscal 2009, fiscal 2010 and the first quarter of fiscal 2012, and presently holds for sale one facility. In the current fiscal period, the Company ceased operations in its direct-to-home catalog business specializing in toys. This business was a separate reporting unit included in the Media, Licensing and Advertising segment and it is now classified as a discontinued operation in the Company’s financial statements. Reference is made to Note 2, “Discontinued Operations,” for additional information concerning discontinued operations.

Seasonality

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. Due to the seasonal fluctuations that occur, the August 31, 2010 condensed consolidated balance sheet is included for comparative purposes.

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, returns and allowances
	•	Pension and other post-retirement obligations
	•	Uncertain tax positions
	•	Inventory reserves
	•	Gross profits for book fair operations during interim periods
	•	Sales taxes
	•	Royalty advance reserves
	•	Customer reward programs
	•	Impairment testing for goodwill, intangibles and other long-lived assets

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued an update to authoritative guidance on the revenue recognition related to multiple deliverable revenue arrangements. The guidance addresses the accounting for multiple-deliverable arrangements to enable vendors to account for products or services (deliverables) separately rather than as a combined unit. Vendors often provide multiple products or services to their customers. Those deliverables often are provided at different points in time or over different time periods. The current authoritative guidance establishes the accounting and reporting guidance for arrangements under which the vendor will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. Specifically, this guidance addresses how to separate deliverables and how to measure and allocate arrangement consideration to one or more units of accounting. This guidance is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. To date, the adoption of this standard has not had a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In October 2009, the FASB issued an update to authoritative guidance related to certain revenue arrangements that include software elements. The accounting guidance update addresses the accounting for revenue arrangements that contain tangible products and software and it affects vendors that sell or lease tangible products in an arrangement that contains software that is more than incidental to the tangible product as a whole. The update clarifies what guidance should be used in allocating and measuring revenue. Tangible products containing software components and non-software components that function together to deliver the tangible product’s essential functionality are no longer within the scope of the software recognition guidance “Software – Revenue Recognition.” The amendment requires that hardware components of a tangible product containing software components always be excluded from the software revenue guidance. This guidance is effective prospectively for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified in fiscal years beginning on or after June 15, 2010. The adoption of this standard has had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance on the two-step testing required for impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets. When a goodwill impairment test is performed (either on an annual or interim basis), an entity must assess whether the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value. If it does, an entity must perform an additional test to determine whether goodwill has been impaired and to calculate the amount of that impairment. The amendments in this update modify Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts. For those reporting units, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that an impairment of goodwill exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that impairment may exist. The amendments in this update are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

In December 2010, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to business combinations. The amendments in this update specify that, for material business combinations, on an individual or aggregate basis, when comparative financial statements are presented, revenue and earnings of the combined entity should be disclosed as though the business combination had occurred as of the beginning of the comparable prior annual reporting period. The amendments in this update also expand the supplemental pro forma disclosures to include a description of the nature and amount of material, nonrecurring pro forma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination included in the reported pro forma revenue and earnings. The amendments in this update are effective prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after December 15, 2010. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2011, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to fair value measurements. The amendments will add new disclosures, with a particular focus on Level 3 measurements. The objective of these amendments is to improve the comparability of fair value measurements presented and disclosed in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”). The disclosure amendments in this update are to be applied prospectively and are effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. Early application is not permitted.

In June 2011, the FASB issued an update related to the reporting of other comprehensive income. The amendments require that all non-owner changes in stockholders’ equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Regardless of the approach chosen, a company will be required to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statements where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The amendments in this update are to be applied retrospectively. The amendments are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company has not chosen early adoption.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an update to the authoritative guidance related to goodwill impairment testing. The updated guidance gives companies the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. The guidance provides companies with a revised list of examples of events and circumstances to consider, in their totality, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If a company concludes that this is the case, it must perform the two-step test. Otherwise, a company can skip the two-step test. Companies are not required to perform the qualitative assessment and are permitted to skip the qualitative assessment for any reporting unit in any period and proceed directly to Step 1 of the test. A company that validates its conclusion by measuring fair value can resume performing the qualitative assessment in any subsequent period. The amendments are effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. Early adoption is permitted.

Discontinued Operations (Detail) - Schedule of assets and liabilities of the discontinued operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Accounts receivable, net	$ 0.1	$ 0.1	$ 3.4
Inventory	0.3	1.2	3.2
Other assets	9.2	9.2	11.8
Current assets of discontinued operations	9.6	10.5	18.4
Accounts payable	0.1	0.2	1.1
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	1.1	0.6	2.8
Current liabilities of discontinued operations	$ 1.2	$ 0.8	$ 3.9

Segment Information (Detail) - Schedule of segment reporting information - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Childrens Book Publishing And Distribution [Member]
Revenues	$ 77.3	$ 72.8
Bad debts		2.0
Depreciation and amortization	3.7	3.6
Amortization	3.1	3.3
Royalty advances expensed	5.0	5.1
Segment operating (loss) income	(49.8)	(51.6)
Segment assets	506.5	553.1
Goodwill	54.3	54.3
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	8.2	13.0
Long-lived assets	172.5	183.8
Educational Technology And Services [Member]
Revenues	96.6	82.1
Bad debts	0.3	0.3
Depreciation and amortization	0.3	0.3
Amortization	5.2	5.8
Royalty advances expensed	0.2	0.2
Segment operating (loss) income	38.8	30.2
Segment assets	185.8	204.6
Goodwill	21.9	21.0
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	5.3	6.1
Long-lived assets	97.1	91.5
Classroom And Supplemental Materials Publishing [Member]
Revenues	45.7	36.5
Bad debts	0.4	(0.3)
Depreciation and amortization	0.3	0.3
Amortization	1.4	0.7
Royalty advances expensed	0.1
Segment operating (loss) income	2.1	(1.7)
Segment assets	149.8	143.5
Goodwill	64.0	67.4
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	1.3	0.8
Long-lived assets	79.7	76.7
Media Licensing And Advertising [Member]
Revenues	10.7	17.1
Depreciation and amortization	0.1	0.5
Amortization	1.5	1.7
Royalty advances expensed	0.1	0.1
Segment operating (loss) income	(5.0)	(2.2)
Segment assets	40.6	51.5
Goodwill	5.4	5.4
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	1.9	2.0
Long-lived assets	20.2	20.1
Overhead [Member]
Depreciation and amortization	9.2	8.4
Segment operating (loss) income	(19.2)	(18.8)
Segment assets	396.6	384.0
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	5.0	5.5
Long-lived assets	244.6	227.1
Total Domestic [Member]
Revenues	230.3	208.5
Bad debts	0.7	2.0
Depreciation and amortization	13.6	13.1
Amortization	11.2	11.5
Royalty advances expensed	5.4	5.4
Segment operating (loss) income	(33.1)	(44.1)
Segment assets	1,279.3	1,336.7
Goodwill	145.6	148.1
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	21.7	27.4
Long-lived assets	614.1	599.2
International Segment [Member]
Revenues	87.7	81.9
Bad debts	0.7	0.9
Depreciation and amortization	1.5	1.3
Amortization	0.7	0.6
Royalty advances expensed	0.8	0.6
Segment operating (loss) income	(0.1)	(2.2)
Segment assets	270.2	288.2
Goodwill	8.6	8.5
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	2.3	3.1
Long-lived assets	71.0	69.7
Revenues	318.0	290.4
Bad debts	1.4	2.9
Depreciation and amortization	15.1	14.4
Amortization	11.9	12.1
Royalty advances expensed	6.2	6.0
Segment operating (loss) income	(33.2)	(46.3)
Segment assets	1,549.5	1,624.9
Goodwill	154.2	156.6
Expenditures for long-lived assets, including royalty advances	24.0	30.5
Long-lived assets	$ 685.1	$ 668.9

Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Debt (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2012	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2008	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2003
Federal Funds Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		0.50%
Revolving Loan [Member]
Additional Credit Facility Sanctioned			$ 150.0
Percentage of Applicable Margin On Loan Agreement		0.60%
Unsecured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit, Current		$ 20.0
Term Loan [Member]
Credit Facility Sanctioned			200.0
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding		$ 39.5
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate at Period End		1.00%
Line of Credit [Member]
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount		$ 7.9		$ 0.7	$ 7.7
Short-term Debt, Weighted Average Interest Rate		4.00%		6.70%	3.90%
Credit Facility Sanctioned During Period			325.0
Standby Letters of Credit [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding		$ 1.4
Line of Credit, Current		47.4		$ 43.5	$ 50.5
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount		$ 200.0		203.4	242.3
Credit Facility Sanctioned During Period			$ 525.0
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage Range Minimum		0.125%
Line of Credit Facility Fee Percentage Range Maximum		0.25%
Line of Credit Facility, Commitment Fee Percentage		0.15%
Notes Payable, Noncurrent, Value						$ 175.0
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.00%
Term Loan [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Quarterly Principal Payment		$ 10.7
Secured Debt [Member]
Line of Credit, Current		30.1
Term Loan [Member]
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount		$ 39.5		$ 50.2	$ 82.3
Line of Credit Facility, Final Payment	$ 7.4
Percentage of Applicable Margin On Loan Agreement		0.75%
Notes Payable, Other Payables [Member]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage		5.00%
Eurodollar Rate [Member]
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate During Period		1.00%
LIBOR Rate [Member]
Line Of Credit Facility Interest Rate Range Minimum		0.50%
Line of Credit Facility, Interest Rate Range, Maximum		1.25%

Loss Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	4.5	5.0
Dilutive Shares	0.6	0.4
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Outstanding, Number	6.0	6.4
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount (in Dollars)	$ 44.5

Loss Per Share (Detail) - Schedule of Calculation of Numerator and Denominator in Earnings Per Share - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Class A and Common Shares (in Dollars)	$ (25.1)	$ (33.9)
Loss from discontinued operations attributable to Class A and Common Shares, net of tax (in Dollars)	(2.0)	(1.3)
Net loss attributable to Class A and Common Shares (in Dollars)	$ (27.1)	$ (35.2)
Weighted average Shares of Class A Stock and Common Stock outstanding for basic loss per share (in millions) (in Shares)	31.0	36.1
Basic:
Loss from continuing operations	$ (0.81)	$ (0.94)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net loss	(0.87)	(0.98)
Diluted:
Loss from continuing operations	(0.81)	(0.94)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.06)	(0.04)
Net loss	$ (0.87)	$ (0.98)

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Detail) - Schedule of goodwill $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2011 USD ($)
Gross beginning balance	$ 174.0
Accumulated impairment	(17.4)
Goodwill	156.6
Additions due to acquisition	1.0
Impairment charge	(3.4)
Gross ending balance	175.0
Accumulated impairment	(20.8)
Goodwill	$ 154.2

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Detail) - Schedule of other intangible assets not subject to amortization - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Trademarksand Other [Member]
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	$ 1.8	$ 1.8	$ 12.5
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets	$ 1.8	$ 1.8	$ 12.5

Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2006
Childrens Television Programming Holdings [Member]
Equity Method Investments	$ 1.3	$ 0.9	$ 1.3	$ 6.0
Investments in and Advance to Affiliates, Subsidiaries, Associates, and Joint Ventures	21.2	21.7	20.4
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments			3.6
Cost Method Investments	5.7	9.1	5.7
Equity Method Investments	15.5	12.6	14.7
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0.4	0.3
Childrens Book Publishing And Distribution [Member]
Equity Method Investments				$ 1.3
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage				12.25%
Usborne [Member]
Equity Method Investments	$ 14.2	$ 11.7	$ 13.4	$ 14.2
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage				26.20%

Investments (Detail) - Schedule of cost and equity method investments - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Usborne [Member]
Equity method investments:
Equity method investments	$ 14.2	$ 13.4	$ 11.7
Childrens Television Programming Holdings [Member]
Equity method investments:
Equity method investments	1.3	1.3	0.9
The Book People Ltd [Member]
Cost method investments	5.7	5.7	9.1
Cost method investments	5.7	5.7	9.1
Equity method investments:
Equity method investments	15.5	14.7	12.6
Total	$ 21.2	$ 20.4	$ 21.7

Employee Benefit Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Employee Benefit Plans (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2012
United States Pension Plans of US Entity, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Minimum Contribution Required	$ 0.0
Estimate Cash Contribute To Pension Plans		$ 8.5
UK Pension Plan [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan, Minimum Contribution Required	$ 0.2

Employee Benefit Plans (Detail) - Schedule Of Net Benefit Costs - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Pension Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Service cost		$ 0.1
Interest cost	$ 2.1	2.2
Expected return on assets	(2.7)	(2.4)
Amortization of loss	0.3	0.5
Net periodic benefit costs	(0.3)	0.4
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Defined Benefit [Member]
Service cost	0.0
Interest cost	0.5	0.5
Net amortization of prior service credit	(0.2)	(0.2)
Amortization of loss	1.0	0.5
Net periodic benefit costs	$ 1.3	$ 0.8

Stock-Based Compensation (Detail) - Schedule of stock-based compensation - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Management Stock Purchase Plan Expense [Member]
Stock based compensation expense	$ 0.0	$ 0.0
Employee Stock Purchase Plan Expense [Member]
Stock based compensation expense	0.0	0.1
Stock option expense	1.5	3.8
Restricted stock unit expense	0.7	1.4
Stock based compensation expense	$ 2.2	$ 5.3

Severance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Severance (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
	$ 3.3	$ 2.1	$ 6.7
Accrued Severance Cost	$ 2.4	$ 1.7	$ 1.9	$ 3.4

Treasury Stock (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						5 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2011	Feb. 28, 2010	Feb. 28, 2009	Nov. 30, 2008	May 31, 2008	Feb. 28, 2008	May 31, 2008	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2008
Accelerated Share Repurchases Outstanding Common Stock									$ 200.0
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Initially Received Shares (in Shares)					5,100,000		5,100,000		5,100,000
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Additional Received Shares (in Shares)					700,000		700,000		700,000
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Shares Received Total (in Shares)					5,800,000		5,800,000		5,800,000
Accelerated Share Repurchases, Initial Price Paid Per Share (in Dollars per share)									$ 34.64
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount		$ 20.0	$ 5.0	$ 10.0	$ 20.0	$ 20.0
Stock Repurchase Program Number Of Shares Repurchased (in Shares)					700,000		700,000	400,000	700,000
Stock Repurchase Program Repurchased Amount							$ 20.0	$ 9.7
Treasury Stock Acquired, Average Cost Per Share (in Dollars per share)							$ 30.09	$ 24.98
Common Shares Purchased (in Shares)								5,199,699
Common Shares Purchase Price Per Share (in Dollars per share)								$ 30.00
Purchase Of Common Stock Value Excluding Related Fees and Expenses								$ 156.0
Purchase of Shares, Percentage of Common Shares Outstanding								15.10%
Fees Related To Shares Purchase								$ 1.2
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount	$ 44.5

Fair Value Measurements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	May 31, 2011
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage	5.00%
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments		$ 3.6
Asset Impairment Charges	$ 0.9	$ 3.4

Income Taxes (Detail)	3 Months Ended
Income Taxes (Detail)	Aug. 31, 2011
Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation, at Federal Statutory Income Tax Rate	45.00%

Derivatives and Hedging (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Derivatives and Hedging (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2011	Aug. 31, 2010
Unrealized Gain On Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated As Hedging Instruments	$ 0.1	$ 1.0

Subsequent Event (Detail)	Aug. 31, 2011 $ / shares
Common Class A [Member]
Subsequent Event Dividend Declared Per Share	$ 0.10

Label	Element	Value
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	$ (20,800,000)
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	us-gaap_GoodwillImpairedAccumulatedImpairmentLoss	(17,400,000)
Goodwill, Gross	us-gaap_GoodwillGross	175,000,000
Goodwill, Gross	us-gaap_GoodwillGross	$ 174,000,000