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Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Apr. 30, 2021 | Apr. 30, 2020 | Apr. 30, 2019
Activity in Goodwill by Segment [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  | $ 1,116,790 |  |  |
Acquisitions | [1] | 136,789 |  |  |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | 50,761 |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  | 1,304,340 | $ 1,116,790 |  |
Goodwill impairment | [2] | 0 | 110,000 |  | $ 0
Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Activity in Goodwill by Segment [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  | 448,130 |  |  |
Acquisitions | [1] | 136,789 |  |  |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | 34,284 |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  | 619,203 | 448,130 |  |
Academic & Professional Learning [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Activity in Goodwill by Segment [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period |  | 501,091 |  |  |
Acquisitions | [1] | 0 |  |  |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | 11,421 |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  | 512,512 | 501,091 |  |
Education Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Activity in Goodwill by Segment [Roll Forward] |  |  |  |  |
Balance, beginning of period | [3] | 167,569 |  |  |
Acquisitions | [1] | 0 |  |  |
Foreign translation adjustment |  | 5,056 |  |  |
Balance, end of period |  | $ 172,625 | 167,569 | [3] |
Goodwill impairment |  |  | 110,000 |  |
Long-lived assets |  |  | $ 434,000 |  |
[1] | Refer to Note 4, “Acquisitions,” for more information related to the acquisitions that occurred in the year ended April 30, 2021.
[2] | See Note 7, “Restructuring and Related Charges” and Note 11, “Goodwill and Intangible Assets” for these charges by segment.
[3] | The Education Services goodwill balance as of April 30, 2020 includes a cumulative pretax noncash goodwill impairment of $110.0 million.

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