Scholastic Media Announces National Clifford The Big Red Dog(R)'BE BIG(TM) in Your...

Scholastic Media Announces National Clifford The Big Red Dog(R)'BE BIG(TM) in
Your Community Contest' as Part of Campaign to Support Civic Engagement in
Celebration of National Volunteer Week

The BE BIG Fund to award $50,000 In Community Grants to The BIGGEST Ideas
Inspired by Clifford's Big Ideas

It only takes a little...to BE BIG!

NEW YORK, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Scholastic Media (Nasdaq: SCHL;
www.scholastic.com) announced today, in celebration of National Volunteer
Week, the "Be Big In Your Community Contest" as part of its ongoing Clifford
The Big Red Dog(R) BE BIG!(TM) campaign (www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig) to
support civic engagement. The national contest invites kids of all ages,
teachers, parents and community leaders to submit a BIG idea that demonstrates
Clifford's Big Ideas (Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair,
Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Have Respect, Work Together and Be
Truthful) to enter for a chance to win a community grant to be used towards
implementing the winning proposals. One (1) grand prize entry will be honored
with a $25,000 community grant and ten (10) runner up entries will each be
honored with a $2,500 community grant (via HandsOn Network affiliate
organizations or designees) from the Be Big Fund. (www.handsonnetwork.org)
The mission of the Be Big Fund is to recognize and reward others for their BE
BIG actions, catalyze change in local communities and provide resources to
share BIG ideas.

"Scholastic is delighted to sponsor the "Be Big In Your Community Contest" and
provide children and families the opportunity to make a real difference in
their community," said Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and
Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc, the global children's publishing,
education and media company. "The BE BIG campaign is about inspiring people
of all ages to work together to embrace Clifford's Big Ideas each and every
day. The contest serves as a call to action for those committed to espousing
the ideals of Clifford's Big Ideas to improve the lives of others while taking
pride in service to their community."

"National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to celebrate youth engagement in
service" said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute and co-founder
of HandsOn Network. "HandsOn Network is thrilled to join Scholastic in helping
people to take action in support of Clifford's Big Ideas to make a
difference." HandsOn Network, (www.handsonnetwork.org) a key operating arm of
Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer management organization in
the nation. The organization equips, mobilizes and inspires people to take
action that change the world.

On Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22, in conjunction with HandsOn
Network affiliate organizations, hundreds of children will participate in BE
BIG in school events nationwide. In New York City, Philadelphia, Miami,
Atlanta and Chicago, Clifford The Big Red Dog will appear to join teachers and
students to celebrate what it means to BE BIG.

"Be Big In Your Community Contest" submissions will be accepted on the
Clifford BE BIG website (www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig) or via standard
mail today through June 26, 2009 and is open to all legal residents of the
U.S. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges from Scholastic Inc.
and HandsOn Network based on the following criteria: feasibility, creativity,
sustainability and impact. Official Rules are available at
www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig/contestrules and at www.handsonnetwork.org.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

In addition, PBS KIDS(R) will air episodes during National Volunteer Week that
highlight the following BIG ideas* :

Monday, April 20th
Magic in the Air: Big Idea: Be Responsible
Everyone Loves Clifford: Big Idea: Be Kind

Tuesday, April 21st
Who Me, Jealous? Big Ideas: Believe in Yourself; Be Responsible
A Bunny In A Haystack: Big Idea: Be Responsible

Wednesday, April 22nd
Doggie Garden: Big Ideas: Help Others; Work Together
Captain Bridwell's Treasure: Big Idea: Be Truthful

Thursday, April 23rd
Clifford's Carnival: Big Ideas: Work together; Be Responsible
Clifford's Doggy Reunion: Big Ideas: Have Respect; Be a Good Friend

Friday, April 24
Who Me, Jealous? Big Ideas: Believe in Yourself; Be Responsible
A Bunny In A Haystack: Big Idea: Be Responsible

The national Clifford BE BIG program invites everyone, big and small, to raise
awareness for how Clifford's BIG Ideas can make the world a better place and
was informed by a research study commissioned by Scholastic Media assessing
the relevance of a Clifford cause campaign. This study found that 70% of
parents believe the BE BIG campaign would meet a current community need, and
found the BE BIG campaign highly appealing. The large majority of respondents
felt the BE BIG campaign would not only be meaningful to children because it
would reinforce the values and lessons that parents strive to impart, but that
it would also be relevant to adults - both as parents and individuals.

The Big Ideas were borne out of the curriculum developed for the award winning
animated television series, currently airing on PBS KIDS(R).
(www.pbskids.org/clifford) Now in its ninth season, Clifford scores high
ratings with moms and is among the most popular PBS KIDS series for kids 2-5.
Clifford enjoys 96% brand awareness among parents. The brand continues to
perform well internationally with television episodes sold to more than 110
countries worldwide.

With more than 126 million books in print, Clifford is a literary classic that
is embraced by parents, teachers and kids. Scholastic will release Clifford
The Champion, a new hardcover by Norman Bridwell, in September 2009.

ABOUT SCHOLASTIC
Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and
distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and
children's media. 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 and school-based book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries,
television networks and the Company's Internet Site, www.scholastic.com.

ABOUT HANDSON NETWORK
HandsOn Network, a business unit of Points of Light Institute, creates
opportunities for people to apply their interests and passions to make a
difference in communities. The Network is leading people from impulse to
action turning their ideas for change into real projects like building wheel
chair ramps, watershed protection projects and tutoring programs. 250 plus
affiliates help nonprofits, community and government organizations manage and
develop the leadership capacity of volunteers. In 2007 alone, these HandsOn
Action Centers helped to deliver more than 33 million hours of volunteer
service valued at $1.2 billion dollars.

ABOUT PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
PBS KIDS, for preschoolers, and PBS KIDS GO!, for early elementary school
kids, offer all children the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds
through television, online and outreach programs. With positive character role
models and content designed to nurture a child's total well-being, PBS's
online and community resources - including PBS KIDS online (pbskids.org), PBS
KIDS GO! online (pbskidsgo.org), PBS Parents (pbsparents.org), PBS Teachers
(pbsteachers.org), PBS KIDS Raising Readers and literacy events across the
country - leverage the full spectrum of media, technology and community to
build knowledge, critical thinking, imagination and curiosity. Empowering
children for success in school and in life, only PBS KIDS and PBS KIDS GO!
have earned the unanimous endorsement of parents, children, industry leaders
and teachers. PBS is a nonprofit media enterprise owned and operated by the
nation's 356 public television stations, serving more than 115 million people
on-air and online each month and reaching 99% of American homes.

Online press kit available at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/clifford

* Full episode descriptions available by request

SOURCE Scholastic

Brian Reinert, +1-212-689-6360, brian_reinert@bhimpact.com, or Ashley Gillen,
+1-212-689-6360, ashley_gillen@bhimpact.com, both of BENDER/HELPER IMPACT for
Scholastic