Piscataway, NJ (August 28, 2006) -- Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education, and media company and the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission (MRESC) announced today that SCHOLASTIC RED® Professional Development is now available to more than 1000 teachers employed throughout Middlesex County, New Jersey. This research-based series of professional development courses includes both online instruction and direct training by facilitators, and is designed to help K-12 teachers raise the reading achievement of their students. 
 
SCHOLASTIC RED, now available through MRESC’s Professional Development Academy (PDA) to teachers in 25 school districts serviced by MRESC, provides teachers with access to some of the leading experts in education by featuring master practitioners and reading experts modeling strategies in real classrooms.  Teachers complete online lessons and then come together as a group to reflect on their learning, share student work, and practice strategies modeled by course facilitators. 
 
"I am excited about this collaboration between Scholastic, a leader in educational technology and reading improvement products and services, and MRESC," said MRESC Superintendent of Schools Mark J. Finkelstein, "Ultimately, this presents an outstanding opportunity to further strengthen the instructional skills of teachers, and in turn, improve the reading skills of students throughout New Jersey."
 
Now in its fourth year, MRESC’s Professional Development Academy delivers quality professional development to schools in 25 school districts and 26 nonpublic educational programs.  Serving more than 1000 participants, the PDA will provide training workshops for teachers and reading coaches interested in being study group facilitators as part of the SCHOLASTIC RED program.
 
All SCHOLASTIC RED courses are aligned to national and state professional development standards and correlated to all major reading programs.  Teachers using RED through MRESC will have access to 16 courses proven to help teachers bolster reading achievement and literacy skills for students across all grade and reading levels.
 
“School leaders are looking for scalable, research-based professional development programs that build teachers’ skill in helping students develop as readers and learners,” said John Lent, Vice President of Professional Development for Scholastic. “We are proud to be working with MRESC to bring SCHOLASTIC RED to Middlesex County, helping to ensure that all students in the region receive quality reading instruction.”  

About Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission
Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission serves approximately 75 school districts in 11 counties, in addition to the 24 school districts located in Middlesex County. The MRESC provides specialized, auxiliary and remedial services to thousands of eligible special needs students, and a comprehensive Professional Development Academy for staff training.  The MRESC also offers the Collaborative Educational Services (CES) program, helping districts provide cost effective educational programs for special needs students within their neighborhood schools.
 
About Scholastic Education
Scholastic Education is a leader in the education marketplace, providing learning solutions for students through research-based technology products and multimedia supplemental instructional materials that support student achievement in grades pre-K through high school.  Grounded in the most current scientific research, Scholastic Education develops technology products and services that include instruction, intervention, assessment, instruction, data management and professional development.
 
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.

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