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Acquisitions (Details) $ in Thousands, £ in Millions |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2020 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2020 GBP (£) | Jul. 01, 2019 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($) Business
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 298,590 | $ 200,642 |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 482,912 | $ 467,131 | 1,405,249 | 1,356,866 |
Operating loss |  |  |  |  |  |  | (34,327) | (48,494) | (134,271) | (116,444) |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | $ 1,297,059 |  | $ 1,116,790 |  |  |  | 1,297,059 |  | 1,297,059 |  | $ 1,116,790
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets | 125,287 |  | 142,716 |  |  |  | 125,287 |  | 125,287 |  | 142,716
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Liabilities | 173,996 |  |  |  |  |  | 173,996 |  | 173,996 |  |
Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 239,850 | 233,556 | 731,994 | 697,640 |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 609,084 |  | 448,130 |  |  |  | 609,084 |  | 609,084 |  | 448,130
Academic & Professional Learning [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 174,115 | 178,278 | 471,618 | 500,861 |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 512,962 |  | 501,091 |  |  |  | 512,962 |  | 512,962 |  | 501,091
Education Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 68,947 | $ 55,297 | 201,637 | $ 158,365 |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 175,013 |  | 167,569 |  |  |  | 175,013 |  | $ 175,013 |  | 167,569
Hindawi [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest acquired |  | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of consideration transferred |  | $ 300,086 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash consideration transferred |  | 299,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Settlement of preexisting relationship |  | 800 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash acquired |  | 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired |  | 298,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisition costs |  | 2,300 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Assets |  | 2,902 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Technology, Property and Equipment, net |  | 844 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets, net |  | 194,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  | 141,775 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets |  | 3,716 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Other non-current assets |  | 177 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total Assets |  | 343,814 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Liabilities |  | 3,657 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities |  | 36,936 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Operating Lease Liabilities |  | 3,135 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total Liabilities |  | 43,728 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  | 194,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Hindawi [Member] | Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,600 |  |  |  |
Operating loss |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,700 |  |  |  |
Hindawi [Member] | Content and Publishing Rights [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  | 188,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years |  |
Hindawi [Member] | Developed Technology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  | 4,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5 years |  |
Hindawi [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  | 400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15 years |  |
Hindawi [Member] | Trademarks [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  | $ 1,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2 years |  |
mthree [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of ownership interest acquired |  |  |  | 100.00% | 100.00% |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of consideration transferred | 123,531 |  | 122,242 | $ 129,900 | £ 98.5 |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash consideration transferred |  |  |  | 122,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash acquired |  |  |  | 2,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired |  |  |  | 126,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Assets | 9,223 |  | 8,750 |  |  |  | 9,223 |  | $ 9,223 |  | 8,750
Technology, Property and Equipment, net | 484 |  | 484 |  |  |  | 484 |  | 484 |  | 484
Intangible Assets, net | 56,836 |  | 56,836 |  |  |  | 56,836 |  | 56,836 |  | 56,836
Goodwill | 82,561 |  | 82,561 |  |  |  | 82,561 |  | 82,561 |  | 82,561
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets | 3,710 |  | 3,710 |  |  |  | 3,710 |  | 3,710 |  | 3,710
Total Assets | 152,814 |  | 152,341 |  |  |  | 152,814 |  | 152,814 |  | 152,341
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Liabilities | 13,564 |  | 14,380 |  |  |  | 13,564 |  | 13,564 |  | 14,380
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities | 12,722 |  | 12,722 |  |  |  | 12,722 |  | 12,722 |  | 12,722
Operating Lease Liabilities | 2,692 |  | 2,692 |  |  |  | 2,692 |  | 2,692 |  | 2,692
Other Long-Term Liabilities | 305 |  | 305 |  |  |  | 305 |  | 305 |  | 305
Total Liabilities | 29,283 |  | 30,099 |  |  |  | 29,283 |  | 29,283 |  | 30,099
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  |  | 56,836 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
mthree [Member] | Education Services [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7,700 |  | $ 32,600 |  |
mthree [Member] | Customer Relationships [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  |  | 48,792 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 years |  |
mthree [Member] | Trademarks [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  |  | 6,725 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |
mthree [Member] | Content [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired |  |  |  | $ 1,319 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4 years |  |
mthree [Member] | Adjustment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of consideration transferred | 1,289 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Assets | 473 |  |  |  |  |  | 473 |  | $ 473 |  |
Technology, Property and Equipment, net | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Intangible Assets, net | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Goodwill | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Operating Lease Right-of-Use Assets | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Total Assets | 473 |  |  |  |  |  | 473 |  | 473 |  |
Liabilities [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Current Liabilities | (816) |  |  |  |  |  | (816) |  | (816) |  |
Deferred Income Tax Liabilities | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Operating Lease Liabilities | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Other Long-Term Liabilities | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 0 |  |
Total Liabilities | (816) |  |  |  |  |  | (816) |  | (816) |  |
zyBooks [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total cash consideration transferred |  |  |  |  |  | $ 55,900 |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets, net |  |  | 24,500 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 24,500
zyBooks [Member] | Academic & Professional Learning [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of consideration transferred |  |  |  |  |  | 57,100 |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of additional consideration to be paid after the acquisition date |  |  |  |  |  | $ 1,200 |  |  | 300 |  |
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  | 1,300 |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill |  |  | $ 36,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36,900
Other Acquisitions [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fair value of cash consideration transferred, including those amounts paid after acquisition, net of cash acquired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 48,500
Revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,700 |  | 11,100 |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets, net | 39,400 |  |  |  |  |  | 39,400 |  | 39,400 |  |
Goodwill | 16,900 |  |  |  |  |  | 16,900 |  | 16,900 |  |
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Revision of Prior Period, Reclassification, Adjustment [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Intangible Assets, net | 11,700 |  |  |  |  |  | 11,700 |  | 11,700 |  |
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Research Publishing & Platforms [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Assets [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Goodwill | 8,400 |  |  |  |  |  | 8,400 |  | 8,400 |  |
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 |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8,500 |  | $ 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] | Developed Technology [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8 years |  |
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] | Trademarks [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |
Other Acquisitions [Member] | Content [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identifiable intangible assets acquired and weighted-average useful life [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average useful life |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 years |  |

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