Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Donates More Than $1 Million in Educational Materials to California Teachers
Global education leader donates more than 25,000 textbooks to California classrooms
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — December 15, 2009 — Helping California teachers during challenging times, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has donated more than 25,000 textbooks and educational materials statewide through its California Textbook Giveaway. Educational materials valued at more than $1 million were distributed including mathematics, science, English, history, health and language textbooks, as well as leveled readers and interactive workbooks. Giveaway events were held in the San Francisco Bay area and in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California.
“We’re thrilled to be able to support public education through community service,” Houghton Mifflin Harcourt K–12 President Mike Lavelle said. “Teachers give selflessly to enrich their students and we are committed to helping them, not just during the holidays, but all year long.”
Teachers were grateful for the donation and for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s commitment to California schools.
“As California struggles to balance its budget, teachers are struggling to acquire the resources they need to teach their students. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided hundreds of teachers in the LA area with teaching material they would have otherwise not had and I’m extremely grateful that my students will benefit from their charitable nature,” Mandy Gibbs, math teacher at Lakeview Charter Academy, said. “It’s clear that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s main purpose is to facilitate learning for California’s youth.”
“Our entire school is excited about the resources Houghton Mifflin Harcourt provided through the Los Angeles area giveaway,” said Dr. David Morrow, Director of High Schools for the Inner City Education Foundation Public Schools in South Los Angeles. “These resources will allow the Frederick Douglass Academy High School and 15 other schools to continue to serve our students in the most resourceful manner.”
In addition to the textbook donations, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt has developed a low-cost alternative for school districts seeking to update their materials. Houghton Mifflin Reading – Medallion Edition is the only California State Board of Education-approved offering designed to address California’s budget crisis. Medallion Edition gives school districts the opportunity to save vital resources by simply building on the popular and successful Houghton Mifflin Reading California that is used in approximately 80 percent of California school districts. This unique submission is fully aligned to the new requirements of the California standards framework and criteria and is a significant upgrade. It features enhanced academic vocabulary development and explicit writing instruction as well as many brand new components, including new electronic versions of the student book and teacher edition and a Technical Skills Toolkit to ensure that beginning readers master the important skills that are predictors of future reading success.
About Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Boston-based Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company is a global education leader and the world’s largest publisher of educational materials for pre-K–12 schools. The Company publishes a comprehensive set of best-in-class educational solutions, ranging from research-based textbook programs to instructional technology to standards-based assessments for students and educators. The Company also publishes an extensive line of reference works and award-winning literature for adults and young readers. With origins dating back to 1832, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt combines its tradition of excellence with a commitment to innovation. To learn more about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, visit www.hmhpub.com.
CONTACT:
Josef Blumenfeld
Vice President, Communications
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
617-351-5432
Josef.blumenfeld@hmhpub.com
Margeaux Esler
Randle Communications
916-448-5802
mesler@randlecommunications.com