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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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