STAMFORD, CT--(Marketwire - February 2, 2009) - The K-through-12 school market seems to be holding its own despite the economic downturn, according to the newly released study from Educational Market Research (EMR) and Simba Information. "The Complete K-12 Report: 2009" indicates that the 2007-2008 school year saw growth in all categories, including textbooks, supplemental materials, trade books and standardized tests, and information technology products.

Since the 2000-2001 school year -- the first of the seven years of data presented in the report -- textbooks have averaged 5.2% growth, while supplementary materials sales have averaged 4.7%. Both of these instructional materials segments slowed this past year, to 4% and 3.6%, respectively. The trade books, tests, and other materials niche should still prosper and continue to grow in the range of 7-9% a year. Software sales should grow at a steady pace, while overall technology products could grow faster due to purchases of hardware, Internet services, and multimedia products.

"The fundamental reason that K-12 market growth will persist in the face of any overall economic slowdown is that the growth formula for this market is based on enrollments and per pupil expenditures, both of which are expected to continue to rise in the foreseeable future," noted Robert M. Resnick, Ph.D., President of Education Market Research.

"The Complete K-12 Report: 2009" is based on dozens of surveys designed to track all of the up-to-date enrollment, funding, expenditure, industry sales and market share data needed to help plan a K-12 business, plus exclusive in-depth analyses of key curriculum areas and specialized sales niches within the overall school market. As always, this year's report thoroughly analyzes the K-12 school market by segment, by subject, and by grade.

About Simba Information

Simba Information is widely recognized as the leading authority for market intelligence in the media and publishing industry. Simba's newsletters and research reports provide timely news, analysis, exclusive statistics, and proprietary industry forecasts to key decision-makers at more than 15,000 client companies around the globe. For more information, please visit www.simbainformation.com.

About Education Market Research

EMR analyzes the U.S. K-12 school market in all of it facets and in each of its grade levels, major curriculum areas, and "markets within the market." The data developed by EMR comes from original studies conducted by EMR using an information gathering network comprised of tens of thousands of educators.