Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2017	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 408,945	$ 374,267	$ 473,663
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	182,168	173,598	159,804
Provision for bad debt	52,776	75,395	74,993
Deferred taxes	46,455	36,276	(15,502)
Stock-based compensation	19,285	23,540	26,068
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Cash and cash equivalents - restricted	(2,104)	(12,159)	23,252
Receivables	(77,873)	(70,721)	(68,109)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(4,542)	4,321	(8,542)
Other noncurrent assets	(6,364)	4,197	2,260
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(30,472)	16,723	681
Accrued salaries, wages and payroll taxes	22,789	17,388	(21,132)
Deferred revenue and other current liabilities	(59,998)	(77,510)	(34,491)
Deferred revenue and other noncurrent liabilities	4,314	3,055	3,289
Income tax receivables, accrued income taxes and income tax reserves	129	(12,499)	33,410
Other, net	(5,415)	(23,477)	(23,036)
Net cash provided by operating activities	550,093	532,394	626,608
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of available-for-sale securities	0	0	(90,581)
Sales, maturities and payments received on available-for-sale securities	1,144	436,471	91,878
Principal payments and sales of mortgage loans and real estate owned, net	207,174	38,481	32,090
Capital expenditures	(89,255)	(99,923)	(123,158)
Payments made for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(54,816)	(88,776)	(113,252)
Franchise loans:
Franchise loans funded	(34,473)	(22,820)	(49,695)
Payments received on franchise loans	61,437	55,007	90,636
Other, net	8,108	11,075	13,150
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	99,319	329,515	(148,932)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of commercial paper and line of credit borrowings	(1,700,000)	(1,465,000)	(1,049,136)
Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper and line of credit borrowings	1,700,000	1,465,000	1,049,136
Repayments of long-term debt	0	0	(400,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	0	996,831	0
Customer banking deposits, net	0	(326,705)	(28,544)
Dividends paid	(187,115)	(201,688)	(219,960)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered	(322,850)	(2,018,338)	(10,449)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,371	25,775	16,522
Other, net	(22,830)	(18,576)	(3,376)
Net cash used in financing activities	(530,424)	(1,961,729)	(645,807)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash	(4,458)	(10,569)	(9,986)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	114,530	(1,110,389)	(178,117)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year	896,801	2,007,190	2,185,307
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year	1,011,331	896,801	2,007,190
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW DATA:
Income taxes paid, net of refunds received	163,539	165,154	236,624
Interest paid on borrowings	87,185	59,058	44,847
Accrued additions to property and equipment	2,433	2,822	14,282
Conversion of investment in preferred stock to available-for-sale common stock	0	0	5,000
Transfer of bank deposits	$ 0	$ (419,028)	$ 0