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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
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CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): DECEMBER 22, 2004
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)
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DELAWARE 000-19860 13-3385513
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
557 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, 10012
NEW YORK (ZIP CODE)
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
(212) 343-6100
(REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)
(FORMER NAME OR FORMER ADDRESS, IF CHANGED SINCE LAST REPORT)
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange
Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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ITEM 8.01 OTHER EVENTS.
On December 21, 2004, Scholastic Corporation issued the press release attached
hereto as Exhibit 99.1 announcing the publication date for HARRY POTTER AND THE
HALF-BLOOD PRINCE.
ITEM 9.01 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(A) NOT APPLICABLE
(B) NOT APPLICABLE
(C) THE FOLLOWING EXHIBIT IS FILED AS PART OF THIS REPORT:
Press release dated December 21, 2004 is filed as Exhibit 99.1.
SIGNATURES
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 22, 2004 SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION
(Registrant)
By: /S/ CHARLES B. DEULL
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Name: Charles B. Deull
Title: Senior Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
EXHIBIT INDEX
NUMBER EXHIBIT
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99.1 Press release dated December 21, 2004.
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AN UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS PRESENT ARRIVES
J.K. ROWLING'S HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD
PRINCE TO BE PUBLISHED ON JULY 16, 2005 IN THE
UNITED STATES, BRITAIN, CANADA AND AUSTRALIA
NEW YORK, NY: LONDON, ENGLAND: December 21, 2004 - HARRY POTTER AND THE
HALF-BLOOD PRINCE by J.K. Rowling, the sixth in the best-selling series, has
been scheduled for release on July 16, 2005 in the United States, Britain,
Canada and Australia, it was announced today by Scholastic and Bloomsbury, her
publishers. On her website, www.jkrowling.com, J.K. Rowling announced yesterday
that she had delivered the manuscript to her publishers.
In making the joint announcement, Barbara Marcus, President of Scholastic
Children's Books in the United States, and Nigel Newton, Chief Executive of
Bloomsbury Publishing in Britain, said, "We are delighted to announce the
publication date. J.K. Rowling has written a brilliant story that will dazzle
her fans in a marvelous book that takes the series to yet greater heights. HARRY
POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE delivers all the excitement and wonder of her
best-selling previous Harry Potter novels."
In the fifth and most recent book, HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX,
the last chapter, titled "The Second War Begins," started:
'In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge
confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country
and is active once more.
"It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling
himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive among us again,"
said Fudge.'
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE takes up the story of Harry Potter's
sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry at this point in the
midst of the storm of this battle of good and evil.
The author has already said that the Half-Blood Prince is neither Harry nor
Voldemort. And most importantly, the opening chapter of HARRY POTTER AND THE
HALF-BLOOD PRINCE has been brewing in J.K. Rowling's mind for 13 years.
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, J.K. Rowling's fifth Harry Potter
book, was released on June 21, 2003, and was the fastest-selling book in history
on the first weekend of its publication. All five Harry Potter books, HARRY
POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE, HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS, HARRY
POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, as well
as HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, have been number one bestsellers
in the United States, Britain, and around the world.
Scholastic will publish HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE in hardcover
under the Arthur A. Levine imprint with interior and cover art by Mary Grand
Pre, who has illustrated the previous five books. The price will be $29.99.
-MORE-
Exhibit 99.1
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
PAGE 2
ABOUT SCHOLASTIC
Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and
distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology.
Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products
for use in school and at home, including children's books, magazines,
technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, film,
videos and toys. The Company distributes its products and services through a
variety of channels, including proprietary school-based book clubs, school-based
book fairs, and school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail
stores, schools, libraries and television networks; and the Company's Internet
site, www.scholastic.com.
Contact: Kyle Good, Scholastic Lucy Holden, Bloomsbury
212-343-4563 lucy_holden@bloomsbury.com
kgood@scholastic.com