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Acquisitions (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |  |  | 3 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($) | Nov. 01, 2018 USD ($) | Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($) Business | Jul. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($) | Oct. 31, 2018 $ / shares shares
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, net of cash acquired |  |  | $ 73,209 |  | $ 0 |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 1,121,783 |  |  | $ 1,095,666 |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  | 663,323 |  |  | 648,440 |
Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 423,402 |  |  | 438,511 |
Education Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 199,010 |  |  | 199,010 |
Education Publishing & Professional Learning [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 499,371 |  |  | 458,145 |
Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  | 249,647 | [1] |  | $ 245,830 |
zybooks [Member] | Education Publishing & Professional Learning [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash acquired | $ 1,800 |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, net of cash acquired | 54,100 |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 33,200 |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired | $ 28,500 |  |  |  |  |  |
Other Acquisitions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, net of cash acquired |  |  | 19,100 |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | 9,400 |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  | $ 15,300 |  |  |  |
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of immaterial businesses acquired | Business |  |  | 2 |  |  |  |
The Learning House, Inc. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%
Fair value of consideration transferred |  | $ 201,300 |  |  |  |  |
Payment to acquire business, gross |  | 200,700 |  |  |  |  |
Cash acquired |  | 10,300 |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, net of cash acquired |  | 190,400 |  |  |  |  |
The Learning House, Inc. [Member] | Warrants [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of warrants |  | $ 600 |  |  |  |  |
The Learning House, Inc. [Member] | Warrants [Member] | Common Stock Class A [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares of common stock warrantholders are allowed to purchase (in shares) | shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | 400,000
Exercise price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 90.00
[1] | Refer to Note 3, “Acquisitions,” for more information related to the acquisitions that occurred in the three months ended July 31, 2019.

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