Because reading and writing are critical for success in the school, the community, and the workplace, Schoolwide, Inc. has a central mission to improve students' reading, writing, and learning by increasing the tools teachers can use to teach effectively.

In 1993 PARADE magazine printed an article that featured a Student-Run Bookstore in the Bronx, New York. This innovative program served to put new children's books into the hands and homes of disadvantaged children at a low cost, while at the same time affording "student workers" the opportunity to gather real-world work experience. The founder of this program, Reading Teacher Robin Cohen, operated the Student-Run Bookstore program for 14 years and found it to be among the most rewarding experiences of her career. The PARADE article inspired thousands of teachers across the country to contact Robin and inquire about opening a Student-Run Bookstore of their own. Robin's son Jess Cohen gathered the letters and approached publishers about purchasing books for the sole purpose of helping schools open and run Student-Run Bookstores. Shortly after, Schoolwide, Inc. was born.

For the first five years of our existence Schoolwide opened and supplied books to Student-Run Bookstores, exclusively. Since then we have expanded greatly, becoming a leading provider of educational products; a partner to some of the most well-respected educational organizations in the world; and a curriculum developer, publisher, and professional development provider.

Schoolwide, Inc. began as a diminutive book distributor located in the basement of a house and run by two brothers, the sons of two public school teachers. Schoolwide has grown tremendously over the years and we look forward to continued success as we adhere to our guiding mission to improve the performance of students by increasing the tools their teachers can use to teach effectively.