Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 51,885	$ (178,163)	$ (164,263)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Asset impairment	60,515	36,209	22,691
Depreciation and amortization expense	24,938	55,455	73,150
Bad debt expense	21,980	14,841	28,892
Compensation expense related to share-based awards	2,857	4,277	6,699
Loss (gain) on sale of businesses, net	1,793	311	(123,204)
Loss on disposition of property and equipment	663	32	118
Deferred income taxes	(145,807)	14,250	58,087
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Student receivables, gross	(1,517)	13,281	56,072
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(20,960)	(23,812)	(39,766)
Other receivables, net	14,311	7,854	(29,526)
Inventories, prepaid expenses, and other current assets	6,160	(1,877)	40,257
Deposits and other non-current assets	2,711	(1,166)	12,244
Accounts payable	2,539	(830)	(8,463)
Accrued expenses and deferred rent obligations	(31,104)	(52,972)	(4,885)
Deferred tuition revenue	(12,650)	(6,314)	(13,907)
Net cash used in operating activities	(21,686)	(118,624)	(85,804)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of available-for-sale investments	(93,360)	(157,425)	(40,842)
Sales of available-for-sale investments	100,173	64,920	73,070
Purchases of property and equipment	(11,695)	(13,156)	(19,636)
Proceeds on the sale of assets	2,272		156,816
Payments of cash upon sale of businesses, net of cash divested	(4,013)	(387)	(2,525)
Purchase of equity method investment	(1,368)	(1,575)
Other			(17)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(7,991)	(107,623)	166,866
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Issuance of common stock	1,401	1,354	998
Tax benefit associated with stock option exercises			1
Borrowings from credit facility	38,000	10,000
Payments on borrowings	(10,000)		(80,000)
Change in restricted cash	(26,883)	(10,374)	85,314
Payments of capital lease obligations			(210)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,518	980	6,103
EFFECT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:	246	156	(8,844)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(26,913)	(225,111)	78,321
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS CASH ACTIVITY INCLUDED ABOVE:
Add: Cash balance of discontinued operations, beginning of the year		475	128,202
Less: Cash balance of discontinued operations, end of the year			475
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the year	93,832	318,468	112,420
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the year	66,919	93,832	318,468
Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
Interest paid	33	54	517
Income taxes paid	$ 580	$ 17,528	$ 5,106