Basis of Presentation	9 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2019
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Note 1 — Basis of Presentation Throughout this report, when we refer to “Wiley,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us,” we are referring to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and all our subsidiaries, except where the context indicates otherwise. Our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all the accounts of the Company and our subsidiaries. We have eliminated all significant intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Condensed Consolidated Financial Condition, Results of Operations, Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows for the periods presented. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. All amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts, and approximate due to rounding. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2018 (“2018 Form 10-K”). Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of the SEC. As permitted under those rules, annual footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. Change in Accounting Policy In connection with the acquisition of Learning House (See Note 3, “Acquisition”), we changed our accounting policy for certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions. Under the new accounting policy, these costs are included in Cost of Sales whereas they were previously included in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Including these expenses in Cost of Sales will better align these costs with the related revenue and conform with the presentation of such costs for Learning House. This change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively. The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 have been reclassified to reflect this change in accounting policy. The impact of this reclassification was an increase to Cost of Sales and a corresponding decrease to Operating and Administrative Expenses of $11.2 million and $34.7 million for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018, respectively. This reclassification had no impact on Revenue, net, Operating Income, Net Income, or Earnings per Share on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.

Note 1 — Basis of Presentation

Throughout this report, when we refer to “Wiley,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us,” we are referring to John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and all our subsidiaries, except where the context indicates otherwise.

Our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all the accounts of the Company and our subsidiaries. We have eliminated all significant intercompany transactions and balances in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Condensed Consolidated Financial Condition, Results of Operations, Comprehensive Income and Cash Flows for the periods presented. Operating results for the interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. All amounts are in thousands, except per share amounts, and approximate due to rounding. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the most recent audited consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2018 as filed with the SEC on June 29, 2018 (“2018 Form 10-K”).

Our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with the interim reporting requirements of the SEC. As permitted under those rules, annual footnotes or other financial information that are normally required by U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The preparation of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.

Change in Accounting Policy

In connection with the acquisition of Learning House (See Note 3, “Acquisition”), we changed our accounting policy for certain advertising and marketing costs incurred by our Education Services business to fulfill performance obligations from contracts with educational institutions. Under the new accounting policy, these costs are included in Cost of Sales whereas they were previously included in Operating and Administrative Expenses on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. Including these expenses in Cost of Sales will better align these costs with the related revenue and conform with the presentation of such costs for Learning House. This change in accounting policy was applied retrospectively.

The Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018 have been reclassified to reflect this change in accounting policy. The impact of this reclassification was an increase to Cost of Sales and a corresponding decrease to Operating and Administrative Expenses of $11.2 million and $34.7 million for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2018, respectively. This reclassification had no impact on Revenue, net, Operating Income, Net Income, or Earnings per Share on the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.