Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 02, 2011	Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,586,603
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(171,606)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,414,997
Acquisitions	5,143
Impairment		0	(11,923)	0	0	(11,923)
Dispositions	(4,660)
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(22,713)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	12,016
Goodwill, ending balance	1,567,897	1,586,603				1,586,603
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(163,114)	(171,606)				(171,606)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,404,783	1,414,997				1,414,997
Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,116,615
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,108,123
Acquisitions	5,143
Dispositions	(4,660)
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(22,713)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	12,016
Goodwill, ending balance	1,097,909
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,097,909
Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	409,128
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	409,128
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	55
Goodwill, ending balance	409,183
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	409,183
Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	152,187
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	152,187
Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	515,936
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	515,936
Acquisitions	5,143
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	10,791
Goodwill, ending balance	531,870
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	531,870
Kaplan Ventures [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	39,364
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	30,872
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	(4,660)
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(22,713)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	1,170
Goodwill, ending balance	4,669
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	4,669
Cable Television [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,411
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	15,411
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	0
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	203,165
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	0
Goodwill, net, ending balance	203,165
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, beginning balance	100,152
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(97,342)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	2,810
Acquisitions	0
Dispositions	0
Reclassification to discontinued operations	0
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	0
Goodwill, ending balance	100,152
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(97,342)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 2,810