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Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions				3 Months Ended
Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	Jan. 01, 2020 USD ($)	Jan. 01, 2020 EUR (€)	Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2020 USD ($) Business	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired				$ 136		$ 73,209
Revenue				431,326		423,530
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				1,133,610	$ 1,116,790
Research Publishing & Platforms [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				240,810		229,375
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				452,408	448,130
Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				126,913		144,858
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				509,885	501,091
Education Services [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				63,603		$ 49,297
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				171,317	167,569
Mthree [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of ownership interest acquired	100.00%
Fair value of consideration transferred	$ 128,600	€ 97.5
Total cash consideration transferred at the acquisition date	122,200
Fair value of additional consideration to be paid after the acquisition date	6,400
Cash acquired	2,200
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired	126,400
Assets [Abstract]
Intangible Assets, net	56,800
Mthree [Member] \| Education Services [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Revenue				12,400
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill	$ 82,600
zybooks [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Total cash consideration transferred at the acquisition date			$ 55,900
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired					24,500
zybooks [Member] \| Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of consideration transferred			57,100
Total cash consideration transferred at the acquisition date			100
Fair value of additional consideration to be paid after the acquisition date			$ 1,200
Revenue				1,300
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill					$ 36,900
Other Acquisitions [Member]
Acquisitions [Abstract]
Fair value of consideration transferred				11,700
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired				48,500
Revenue				2,300
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				16,600
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired				39,400
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Research Publishing & Platforms [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				$ 8,100
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business				2
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Academic & Professional Learning [Member]
Assets [Abstract]
Goodwill				$ 8,500
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business				1
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Education Services [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Number of immaterial businesses acquired \| Business				1
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Customer Relationships [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life				7 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Developed Technology [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life				8 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Content [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life				10 years
Other Acquisitions [Member] \| Trademarks [Member]
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract]
Weighted-average useful life				10 years