Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jul. 03, 2011
Goodwill, beginning balance	$ 1,543,077
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(166,720)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,376,357
Acquisitions	74,359
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(3,646)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	16,121
Goodwill, ending balance	1,629,911
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(166,720)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,463,191
Education [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,073,089
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(15,529)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,057,560
Reallocation, net (Note 12)
Acquisitions	74,359
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(3,646)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	16,121
Goodwill, ending balance	1,159,923
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(15,529)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,144,394
Education [Member] | Higher Education [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	335,226
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	335,226
Reallocation, net (Note 12)	91,043
Acquisitions	422
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	105
Goodwill, ending balance	433,833
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(7,037)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	426,796
Education [Member] | Test Preparation [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	229,486
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(7,037)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	222,449
Reallocation, net (Note 12)	(70,262)
Acquisitions
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Goodwill, ending balance	152,187
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance
Goodwill, net, ending balance	152,187
Education [Member] | Kaplan International [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	444,940
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	444,940
Reallocation, net (Note 12)
Acquisitions	70,519
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	14,164
Goodwill, ending balance	529,623
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance
Goodwill, net, ending balance	529,623
Education [Member] | Kaplan Ventures [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	63,437
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	54,945
Reallocation, net (Note 12)	(20,781)
Acquisitions	3,418
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(3,646)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	1,852
Goodwill, ending balance	44,280
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(8,492)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	35,788
Education [Member] | Kaplan Corporate and Other [Member]
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance
Reallocation, net (Note 12)
Acquisitions
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance
Education [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	1,073,089
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(15,529)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	1,057,560
Acquisitions	74,359
Reclassification to discontinued operations	(3,646)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other	16,121
Goodwill, ending balance	1,159,923
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(15,529)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	1,144,394
Cable Television [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	85,488
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	85,488
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Goodwill, ending balance	85,488
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance
Goodwill, net, ending balance	85,488
Newspaper Publishing [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	15,411
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Goodwill, ending balance	81,183
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(65,772)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	15,411
Television Broadcasting [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	203,165
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	203,165
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Goodwill, ending balance	203,165
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance
Goodwill, net, ending balance	203,165
Other Businesses [Member]
Goodwill, beginning balance	100,152
Accumulated impairment losses, beginning balance	(85,419)
Goodwill, net, beginning balance	14,733
Reclassification to discontinued operations
Foreign currency exchange rate changes and other
Goodwill, ending balance	100,152
Accumulated impairment losses, ending balance	(85,419)
Goodwill, net, ending balance	$ 14,733