Simba Information: Digital Is in Demand in the U.S. PreK-12 School Publishing Market with Courseware Gaining Market Share on Steady Growth
STAMFORD, Conn., Aug. 25, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- As schools put more emphasis on students taking control of their learning, the changing classroom environment has powered an evolution in instructional materials to more digital and hands-on formats.
Pent-up demand from the low-spend years of the recession, improved state funding for schools, new academic standards and new tests were the main drivers in the growth of the PreK-12 instructional materials market to an estimated $8.72 billion in 2014, up 6.5% from 2013, according to the newly published report Publishing for the PreK-12 Market 2015-2016 from Simba Information. The rapid deployment of digital devices in classrooms fueled the growth in digital resources, in particular.
The report can be found at: http://www.simbainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=87767&productid=8652303.
"2014 clearly was a year of forward momentum for the industry," said Kathy Mickey, managing editor of Simba's Education Group and an author of the report. "Growth was apparent in every segment of the instructional materials industry, led by textbooks, up 10%, and by courseware, up 9%."
Because of a reduced opportunity for traditional textbooks, which remain the largest single category of instructional materials, the market is projected to pull back a little, down about 2% to $8.56 billion in 2015, according to Simba. Signs are more positive for other categories.
Courseware, up 8.4%, and digital supplements, up 3.7%, are projected to show the most growth as schools integrate digital devices into the learning process.
Another sweet spot for instructional materials providers is trade books, which are in demand by schools to meet new literature and non-fiction reading standards. This category is projected to grow 3.5% in 2015.
"Schools' investment in digital devices and more individualized learning will be a boon for both established and emerging providers of digital resources—such as courseware, apps and games—and will drive growth over the next several years," Mickey said.
The rest of the decade likely will see more purchasing of digital formats, but it also will be a period of hybrid use, Mickey said. Many schools are printing out materials and are asking for print versions for students to use. "Much of the use of print will be transitional as schools acclimate to digital teaching and learning," Mickey said. "But print has a stickiness and likely will retain a place in the learning process for years to come."
For more information on Simba's new report, Publishing for the PreK-12 Market 2015-2016, which provides a segmented overview of the entire PreK-12 publishing industry and sales estimates through 2018, visit http://www.simbainformation.com/redirect.asp?progid=87767&productid=8652303 or call 888-29-SIMBA.
About Simba Information
Simba Information is widely recognized as the leading authority for market intelligence in the media and publishing industry. Simba's extensive information network delivers top quality, independent perspective on the people, events and alliances shaping the media and information industry. Simba publishes newsletters and research reports that provide key decision-makers at more than 15,000 client companies. For more information, please visit www.simbainformation.com.
Contact:
Kathy Mickey
Managing Editor/Senior Analyst, Education Group
Simba Information
203-325-8193 x7410
[email protected]
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SOURCE Simba Information
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