Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Contingencies [Abstract]

Contingencies [Text Block]

10. CONTINGENCIES

Litigation and Legal Matters.The Company is involved in various legal proceedings that arise in the ordinary course of its business. Although the outcome of the legal claims and proceedings against the Company cannot be predicted with certainty, based on currently available information, management believes that there are no existing claims or proceedings that are likely to have a material effect on the Company's business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Also, based on currently available information, management is of the opinion that the exposure to future material losses from existing legal proceedings is not reasonably possible, or that future material losses in excess of the amounts accrued are not reasonably possible.

A purported class action complaint was filed against the Company, Donald E. Graham and Hal S. Jones on October 28, 2010, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, by the Plumbers Local #200 Pension Fund. The complaint alleged that the Company and certain of its officers made materially false and misleading statements, or failed to disclose material facts relating to KHE, in violation of the U.S.Federal securities laws. The complaint sought damages, attorneys' fees, costs and equitable/injunctive relief. The Company moved to dismiss the complaint, and on December 23, 2011, the court granted the Company's motion and dismissed the case with prejudice. On January 25, 2012, the Plaintiff filed a motion seeking leave to amend or alter that final judgment. The court granted the Plaintiff's motion to alter the dismissal and granted leave to file an amended complaint. The Company intends to file a motion to dismiss the amended complaint and will continue to vigorously defend against this action.

With regard to the previously disclosed Gatsiopoulos case, the federal False Claims Act allegations have been dismissed and the employment claim has been resolved.

DOE Program Reviews.The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has undertaken program reviews at various KHE campus locations and at Kaplan University. Currently, there are three pending program reviews, including Kaplan University. In addition, the Company is awaiting the DOE's final report on the program review at KHE's Broomall, PA, location. The results of these open reviews and their impact on Kaplan's operations are uncertain.

Other.In December 2011, the United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) conducted a compliance review at Kaplan UK' s Borough High Street Center in London, England. The review focused on Kaplan UK's compliance with regulations regarding Tier 4 students, who are adult students seeking to study in the U.K. Kaplan UK is fully cooperating with this inquiry and is in the process of responding to requests for additional information. In cases of noncompliance, the UKBA has the authority to take a range of actions to limit, suspend or revoke an institution's ability to sponsor foreign students.At this time, Kaplan cannot predict what determinations the UKBA will make or the ultimate impact of this review on Kaplan UK.

Additionally, UKBA issued revised immigration rules that became operational on April 21, 2011. Students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who were issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) after July 4, 2011 will be given permission to work part-time during their studies only if they attend an institution which qualifies as a Higher Education Institution (HEI). Many of the Kaplan UK international students currently work part-time. Kaplan UK is not in receipt of public funding for the courses upon which international students study and, therefore, does not qualify as an HEI. Also, certain Kaplan UK schools have gained, applied for or are in the process of applying for Highly Trusted Sponsor status (HTS). Without HTS, these schools cannot issue a CAS to potential incoming international students starting in April 2012. These new rules have the potential to adversely impact the number of international students studying at Kaplan UK.