Student receivables represent funds owed to us in exchange for the educational services provided to a student. Student receivables are reflected net of an allowance for credit losses at the end of the reporting period. Student receivables, net, are reflected on our consolidated balance sheets as components of both current and non-current assets. We do not charge interest or fees on any of our payment plans.

Our students pay for their costs through a variety of funding sources, including federal loan and grant programs, institutional payment plans, employer reimbursement, Veterans’ Administration and other military funding and grants, private and institutional scholarships and cash payments. Cash receipts from government related sources are typically received during the current academic term. We typically receive funds after the end of an academic term for students who receive employer reimbursements. Students who have not applied for any type of financial aid generally set up a payment plan with the institution and make payments on a monthly basis per the terms of the payment plan. For those balances that are not received during the academic term, the balance is typically due

within the current academic year which is approximately 30 weeks in length. Generally, a student receivable balance is written off once a student is out of school and it reaches greater than 90 days past due.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, commonly known as “CECL.” This guidance impacted our accounting for the allowance for credit losses (formerly referred to as “doubtful accounts”) for student receivables.

Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses for student receivables. Our estimation methodology considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, changes in the current economic, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.

We have an immaterial amount of student receivables that are due greater than 12 months from the date of our consolidated balance sheets. As of December 31, 2020 and 2019, the amount of non-current student receivables under payment plans that are longer than 12 months in duration, net of allowance for credit losses, was $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

We define student receivables as a portfolio segment under ASC Topic 326 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses. Changes in our current and non-current allowance for credit losses related to our student receivable portfolio in accordance with the guidance effective January 1, 2020 under ASU 2016-13 for the years ended December 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	For the year ended December 31,
	2020			2019			2018
Balance, beginning of period	$	31,964		$	24,836		$	22,534
Beginning balance related to business acquisition		2,174			-			-
Provision for credit losses		47,561			43,470			32,042
Amounts written-off		(42,227	)		(38,921	)		(35,434	)
Recoveries		2,675			2,579			5,694
Balance, end of period	$	42,147		$	31,964		$	24,836

The carrying amount reported in our consolidated balance sheets for the current portion of student receivables approximates fair value because of the nature of these financial instruments as they generally have short maturity periods. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the non-current portion of student receivables, since observable market data is not readily available, and no reasonable estimation methodology exists.