Texas State Board of Education Votes to Approve Scholastic Early Childhood Program Featuring Clifford™ For Its Official List of Adopted PreKindergarten Programs


Comprehensive PreKindergarten Curriculum Addresses All Elements of Early Education Necessary for Children to be Successful in School,
and Provides Equity in English and Spanish
 
Complies with Texas PreKindergarten Curriculum Guidelines

New York, NY (November 15, 2002) -- New York, NY (November 15, 2002) The State Board of Education in Texas today voted to approve the Scholastic Early Childhood Program Featuring Clifford™ for its official list of adopted PreKindergarten programs. Texas public schools will choose materials from this list for use in classrooms next fall. The Scholastic Early Childhood Program, produced by global children's publishing and media company Scholastic Inc., complies with the Texas PreKindergarten curriculum guidelines, and offers equity of materials in English and Spanish.
 
The Scholastic Early Childhood Program is a breakthrough, scientific research-based, full year-long curriculum for PreKindergarten. Unique in its comprehensive, integrated approach, the program reflects the best thinking and practices of leaders in the field of early childhood education and fully addresses all areas of development - academic, social, personal and physical -- necessary for children to become successful learners when they enter school. Clifford the Big Red Dog™, the beloved canine of the best-selling books published by Scholastic and the award-winning, hit TV series on PBS Kids, is featured in the program to engage young children with the curriculum; to reinforce "Clifford's Big Ideas" fostering social/emotional growth, such as helping others and sharing; and to involve children in learning.
 
The state's PreKindergarten curriculum guidelines form the foundation of the Scholastic Early Childhood Program. Areas addressed include Language and Early Literacy, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Health and Safety, Personal and Social Development, Physical Development, and Technology. The program places special emphasis on language, early reading development, and mathematics. The Scholastic Early Childhood Program also fulfills the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act's Early Reading First initiative, covering the legislation's key areas of oral language, phonological awareness, print awareness, and alphabet knowledge.
 
To ensure the success of all learners, all materials are provided in both English and Spanish. In addition, the Scholastic Early Childhood Program embeds lessons specifically for English as a Second Language (ESL) learners into the structure of the teaching plan - enabling educators to move easily and seamlessly through a lesson while addressing the particular needs of these students, a feature unique to this curriculum.
 
"Texas is to be applauded for leading the nation in identifying clear goals for early education. The research shows that high quality, comprehensive PreKindergarten programs positively impact children's later performance in school," said Francie Alexander, Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic Education. "We are pleased to provide the Scholastic Early Childhood Program supporting Texas educators as they give the state's young children the best possible foundation for learning."
 
The authors of the Scholastic Early Childhood Program are at the forefront of early childhood education, including Dr. Cathy Collins Block, professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Texas Christian University; and Ellen Booth Church, a professor at the State University of New York, educational consultant, curriculum developer and writer with many years of classroom experience as a PreKindergarten and kindergarten teacher.
 
Scholastic Education publishes research-based core and supplementary instructional materials, holding a leadership position in reading improvement products as well as learning services that address the needs of the developing reader - from grades PreK to 12. Its offerings for early childhood educators also include Building Language for Literacy™, a research-based program focused on guiding children through the early stages of oral language and literacy development.
 
About Scholastic:
Scholastic Corporation (NMS: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books. Scholastic creates quality educational and entertaining materials and products for use in school and at home, including children's books, textbooks, magazines, technology-based products, teacher materials, television programming, 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, school-based and direct-to-home continuity programs; retail stores, schools, libraries, and television networks; and the Company's Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

Contacts:
Scholastic
Andrea Reibel
212-343-4563
 
Scholastic
Jennifer Slackman
212-343-6427
 
Scholastic
Judy Corman
212-343-6833