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 condensed 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, as well as private loans for our non-degree programs. 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.

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 trend 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 condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of September 30, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 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 $1.4 million and $1.3 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 under ASU 2016-13 for the quarters and years to date ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

	For the quarter to date ended September 30,						For the year to date ended September 30,
	2021			2020			2021			2020
Balance, beginning of period	$	42,876		$	39,044		$	42,147		$	31,964
Beginning balance related to business acquisitions		180			-			180			2,174
Provision for credit losses		10,192			11,519			36,364			36,706
Amounts written-off		(13,982	)		(10,479	)		(41,302	)		(32,213	)
Recoveries		756			637			2,633			2,090
Balance, end of period	$	40,022		$	40,721		$	40,022		$	40,721

The carrying amount reported in our condensed 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.