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v3.19.2

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Apr. 30, 2019 | Apr. 30, 2018 | Apr. 30, 2017
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | [1] | $ 554,722 | $ 531,024 | [2] | $ 500,794 | [2]
Operating and administrative expenses | [1],[2] | 963,582 | 956,822 |  | 943,242 |
Book Overdrafts [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Book overdrafts |  | 7,400 | 13,100 |  |  |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | 14,300 | 10,100 |  |  |
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in net assets |  | (18,542) | (18,628) |  |  |
Inventories [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
LIFO inventories |  | 21,000 | 24,000 |  |  |
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventory obsolescence reserve |  | 15,800 | 18,200 |  |  |
Advertising Expense [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising costs |  | 89,500 | 68,300 |  | 61,400 |
Foreign Currency Gains/Losses [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation losses |  | 60,500 |  |  |  |
Shipping and Handling [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales |  | 32,700 | 33,700 |  | 39,100 |
Operating and administrative expenses |  | 32,700 | 33,700 |  | 39,100 |
Reserve for Inventory Obsolescence [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Inventory obsolescence reserve |  | 15,800 | 18,200 |  |  |
Accounts Receivable, Net [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in net assets | [3] | 0 | (28,302) |  |  |
Inventories, Net [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in net assets |  | 3,739 | 4,626 |  |  |
Accrued Royalties [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in net assets |  | (3,653) | (5,048) |  |  |
Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue) [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales Return Reserves [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Decrease in net assets | [3] | 25,934 | 0 |  |  |
Cost of Sales [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising Expense [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising costs |  | 53,700 | 38,300 |  | 32,400 |
Operating and Admin Expenses [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising Expense [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Advertising costs |  | $ 35,800 | 30,000 |  | 29,000 |
Computer Software [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Computer Software [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 10 years |  |  |  |
Computer Hardware [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Computer Hardware [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Building and Leasehold Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 40 years |  |  |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Furniture, Fixtures and Warehouse Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 10 years |  |  |  |
Enterprise Resource Planning and Related Systems [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 10 years |  |  |  |
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 1 year |  |  |  |
Book Composition Costs [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Other Product Development Costs [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Software Development [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Software Development [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Property Plant and Equipment Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 5 years |  |  |  |
Content and Publishing Rights [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 34 years |  |  |  |
Trademarks [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 16 years |  |  |  |
Customer Relationships [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 18 years |  |  |  |
Brands [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 16 years |  |  |  |
Non-compete Agreements [Member] | Weighted Average [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Finite Lived Intangible Asset Useful Life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Estimated useful life |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Performance-based Stock Awards [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Target period for stock-based compensation expense in advance of actual financial results |  | 3 years |  |  |  |
Change in Accounting Policy for Certain Advertising and Marketing Costs [Member] | The Learning House, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Costs and Expenses [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales |  |  | 45,800 |  | 40,000 |
Operating and administrative expenses |  |  | $ (45,800) |  | $ (40,000) |
[1] | In connection with the acquisition of The Learning House, Inc. ("Learning House"), we changed our accounting policy for certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions. Under the new accounting policy, these costs are included in Cost of Sales whereas they were previously included in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. Including these expenses in Cost of Sales will better align these costs with the related revenue and conform with the presentation of such costs for Learning House. This change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively. The Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended April 30, 2018, and 2017 have been reclassified to reflect this change in accounting policy. The impact of this reclassification was an increase to Cost of Sales and a corresponding decrease to Operating and Administrative Expenses of $45.8 million and $40.0 million for the years ended April 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively. This reclassification had no impact on Revenue, net, Operating Income, Net Income, or Earnings per Share. Refer to "Change in Accounting Policy" in Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued, and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards," for more information on the accounting policy change and Note 4, "Acquisition," in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information related to the acquisition of Learning House.
[2] | Due to the retrospective adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2017-07, "Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,", total net benefits (costs) of $8.1 million and $(5.3) million related to the non-service components of defined benefit and other post-employment benefit plans were reclassified from Operating and Administrative Expenses to Interest and Other Income (Expense) for the years ended April 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Total net benefits (costs) related to the non-service components of defined benefit and other post-employment benefit plans were $8.8 million for the year ended April 30, 2019. Refer to Note 2, "Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, Recently Issued, and Recently Adopted Accounting Standards, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.
[3] | Due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, See Note 3, Revenue from Contracts with Customers the sales return reserve as of April 30, 2019 of $25.9 million is recorded in Contract Liability (Deferred Revenue). In prior periods, the sales return reserve of $28.3 million was recorded as a reduction to Accounts Receivable, net on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.

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