Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011
Face amount of surety bonds	$ 29,000
Education Loan Under 2009 Loan Program [Member]
Principal amount for private education loans	141,000
Education Loan Under 2007 Loan Program [Member]
Principal amount for private education loans	180,000
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
PEAKS senior debt maturity date	January 2020
Maximum future payments for PEAKS senior debt	$ 300,000

Describe the approximate term of the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph a
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

Name:	us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration