Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMHC) 10-Q 8 May 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Apr. 30, 2014
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1	'
Trading Symbol	'HMHC	'
Entity Registrant Name	'Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Co	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0001580156	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'
Entity Filer Category	'Non-accelerated Filer	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	139,994,391

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets

Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Current assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$167,763	$313,628
Short-term investments	100,561	111,721
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for bad debts and book returns of $36.2 million and $40.6 million, respectively	260,247	318,101
Inventories	208,831	182,194
Deferred income taxes	29,402	29,842
Prepaid expenses and other assets	17,155	16,130
Total current assets	783,959	971,616
Property, plant, and equipment, net	135,522	140,848
Pre-publication costs, net	267,473	269,488
Royalty advances to authors, net of allowance of $44.7 million and $41.2 million, respectively	51,489	46,881
Goodwill	531,786	531,786
Other intangible assets, net	886,298	919,994
Other assets	26,109	29,773
Total assets	2,682,636	2,910,386
Current liabilities	'	'
Current portion of long-term debt	2,500	2,500
Accounts payable	67,562	105,012
Royalties payable	50,403	65,387
Salaries, wages, and commissions payable	18,405	29,945
Deferred revenue	105,277	107,905
Interest payable	48	55
Severance and other charges	7,232	8,184
Accrued postretirement benefits	2,141	2,141
Other liabilities	28,923	32,002
Total current liabilities	282,491	353,131
Long-term debt	242,500	243,125
Royalties payable	'	1,520
Long-term deferred revenue	182,443	189,258
Accrued pension benefits	21,904	24,405
Accrued postretirement benefits	23,420	23,860
Deferred income taxes	117,506	116,999
Other liabilities	106,188	107,812
Total liabilities	976,452	1,060,110
Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)	'	'
Stockholders' equity	'	'
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value: 20,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	'	'
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 380,000,000 shares authorized; 140,076,413 and 140,044,400 shares issued at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively; 139,994,391 and 139,962,378 shares outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	1,400	1,400
Treasury stock, 82,022 shares as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	'	'
Capital in excess of par value	4,752,620	4,750,589
Accumulated deficit	-3,034,757	-2,888,422
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-13,079	-13,291
Total stockholders' equity	1,706,184	1,850,276
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$2,682,636	$2,910,386

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
Statement Of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Accounts receivable, allowance for bad debts and book returns	$36.20	$40.60
Royalty advances to authors, allowance	$44.70	$41.20
Preferred stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	20,000,000	20,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Common stock, par value	$0.01	$0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	380,000,000	380,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	140,076,413	140,044,400
Common stock, shares outstanding	139,994,391	139,962,378
Treasury stock, shares	82,022	82,022

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net sales	$153,933	$166,594
Costs and expenses	'	'
Cost of sales, excluding pre-publication and publishing rights amortization	92,648	87,060
Intangible assets amortization	33,700	50,200
Pre-publication amortization	28,974	26,157
Cost of sales	152,373	152,667
Selling and administrative	137,010	130,236
Other intangible asset amortization	2,945	10,752
Severance and other charges	1,757	1,928
Operating loss	-140,152	-128,989
Other income (expense)	'	'
Interest expense	-4,297	-5,907
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	-103	-530
Loss before taxes	-144,552	-135,426
Income tax expense	1,783	1,955
Net loss	-146,335	-137,381
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	($1.05)	($0.98)
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	139,982,297	139,917,978
Publishing rights [Member]	'	'
Costs and expenses	'	'
Intangible assets amortization	$30,751	$39,450

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'
Net loss	($146,335)	($137,381)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	'	'
Foreign currency translation adjustments	203	-743
Unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments, net of tax	9	-15
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	212	-758
Comprehensive loss	($146,123)	($138,139)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities	'	'
Net loss	($146,335)	($137,381)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	'	'
Depreciation and amortization expense	79,909	90,700
Amortization of deferred financing costs	1,188	1,217
Deferred income taxes	947	1,285
Noncash stock-based compensation expense	2,397	1,586
Change in fair value of derivative instruments	103	530
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions	'	'
Accounts receivable	57,854	49,125
Inventories	-26,637	-38,589
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	-34,269	-17,342
Royalties, net	-21,112	-17,795
Deferred revenue	-9,443	-24,970
Interest payable	-7	57
Severance and other charges	-1,769	-1,407
Accrued pension and postretirement benefits	-2,941	-3,342
Other, net	-2,429	-2,036
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities	-102,544	-98,362
Cash flows from investing activities	'	'
Proceeds from sale of short-term investments	19,000	42,250
Purchases of short-term investments	-8,053	-36,053
Additions to pre-publication costs	-38,283	-31,995
Additions to property, plant, and equipment	-14,994	-15,399
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	-42,330	-41,197
Cash flows from financing activities	'	'
Payments of long-term debt	-625	-625
Income tax withholding payments associated with restricted stock units vesting	-366	'
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	-991	-625
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-145,865	-140,184
Cash and cash equivalents	'	'
Beginning of period	313,628	329,078
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	-145,865	-140,184
End of period	167,763	188,894
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information	'	'
Property, plant, and equipment acquired under capital leases (non cash)	4,272	4,641
Pre-publication costs [Member]	'	'
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information	'	'
Costs included in accounts payable (non cash)	13,176	17,691
Property, plant, and equipment [Member]	'	'
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information	'	'
Costs included in accounts payable (non cash)	$3,136	$2,368

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	1	Basis of Presentation
	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Company, formerly known as HMH Holdings (Delaware), Inc. (“HMH”, “Houghton Mifflin Harcourt”, “we”, “us”, “our”, or the “Company”), is a leading global provider of education solutions, delivering content, technology, services and media to over 50 million students in over 150 countries worldwide. We deliver our offerings to both educational institutions and consumers around the world. We believe our long-standing reputation and well-known brands enable us to capitalize on consumer and digital trends in the education market through our existing and developing channels. Furthermore, since 1832, we have published trade and reference materials, including adult and children’s fiction and non-fiction books that have won industry awards such as the Pulitzer Prize, Newbery and Caldecott medals and National Book Award, all of which are generally known.
	The consolidated financial statements of HMH include the accounts of all of our wholly-owned subsidiaries as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 and the three month periods ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013.
	The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial information. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in our annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted consistent with Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, our unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary by management to fairly state the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the interim periods presented. Interim results of operations are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year or for any future period. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and the notes thereto also included herein.
	During the first quarter of 2014, we recorded an out of period correction of approximately $1.1 million reducing net sales and increasing deferred revenue that should have been deferred previously. In addition, during the first quarter of 2014, we recorded approximately $3.5 million of incremental expense, primarily commissions, related to the prior year. These out of period corrections had no impact on our debt covenant compliance. Management believes these out of period corrections are not material to the current period financial statements or any previously issued financial statements and does not expect them to be material for the full fiscal year 2014. Additionally, we revised previously reported balance sheet amounts to severance and other charges of $7.3 million, which has been reclassified as long term and to current deferred revenue of $5.2 million which has also been reclassified as long term. The revision was not material to the reported consolidated balance sheet for any previously filed periods.
	Seasonality and Comparability
	Our net sales, operating profit and operating cash flows are impacted by the inherent seasonality of the academic calendar. Consequently, the performance of our businesses may not be comparable quarter to consecutive quarter and should be considered on the basis of results for the whole year or by comparing results in a quarter with results in the same quarter for the previous year.
	Schools make most of their purchases in the second and third quarters of the calendar year in preparation for the beginning of the school year. Thus, over the past three years, approximately 67% of consolidated net sales have historically been realized in the second and third quarters. Sales of K-12 instructional materials and customized testing products are also cyclical, with some years offering more sales opportunities than others. The amount of funding available at the state level for educational materials also has a significant effect on year-to-year net sales. Although the loss of a single customer would not have a material adverse effect on our business, schedules of school adoptions and market acceptance of our products can materially affect year-to-year net sales performance.

Significant_Accounting_Policie

Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates	'
	2	Significant Accounting Policies and Estimates
	Our financial results are affected by the selection and application of accounting policies and methods. There were no material changes in the three months ended March 31, 2014 to the application of significant accounting policies and estimates as described in our audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Accounting Changes And Error Corrections [Abstract]	'
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	'
	3	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	Recent accounting pronouncements, not included below, are not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position and results of operations.
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of unrecognized tax benefits. This new guidance requires an entity to present an unrecognized tax benefit, or a portion of an unrecognized tax benefit, as a reduction to a deferred tax asset when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss or a tax credit carryforward exists, with limited exceptions. This new guidance is effective for the periods beginning after December 15, 2013, and should be applied prospectively with retroactive application permitted. Our adoption of the guidance did not impact our consolidated financial statements.
	In February 2013, the FASB issued guidance requiring disclosure of amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component. The amendment also requires entities to present significant amounts by the respective line items of net income (loss), either on the face of the income statement or in the notes to the financial statements for amounts required to be reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in their entirety in the same reporting period. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified to net income (loss) in their entirety, a cross-reference is required to other disclosures that provide additional details about those amounts. This guidance was effective prospectively for annual and interim periods beginning January 1, 2013 and is related to presentation only. Our adoption of the guidance did not impact our consolidated financial statements.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	4	Inventories
	Inventories consisted of the following:
			March 31,		December 31,
			2014		2013
	Finished goods		$	201,067	$	177,017
	Raw materials			7,764		5,177
	Inventory		$	208,831	$	182,194

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	5	Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
	Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:
			March 31, 2014					December 31, 2013
			Cost		Accumulated			Cost		Accumulated
					Amortization					Amortization
	Goodwill		$	531,786	$	—		$	531,786	$	—
	Trademarks and tradenames			440,005		—			440,005		—
	Publishing rights			1,180,000		(814,688	)		1,180,000		(783,937	)
	Customer related and other			283,172		(202,191	)		283,172		(199,246	)
			$	2,434,963	$	(1,016,879	)	$	2,434,963	$	(983,183	)
	Amortization expense for publishing rights and customer related and other intangibles were $33.7 million and $50.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Debt	'
	6	Debt
	Our debt consisted of the following:
			March 31,		December 31,
			2014		2013
	$250,000 term loan due May 21, 2018 interest payable monthly		$	245,000	$	245,625
				245,000		245,625
	Less: Current portion of long-term debt			2,500		2,500
	Total long-term debt		$	242,500	$	243,125
	On January 15, 2014, we entered into Amendment No. 4 to our term loan facility, which reduced the interest rate applicable to outstanding borrowings by 1.0%. The transaction was accounted for under the accounting guidance for debt modifications and extinguishments. We recorded an expense of approximately $1.0 million relating to third party transaction fees which was included in the selling and administrative line item in its consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.
	Loan Covenants
	We are required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants as defined under our term loan facility and revolving credit facility. We have financial covenants pertaining to interest coverage, maximum leverage, and fixed charge ratios. The interest coverage ratio is now 9.0 to 1.0 for fiscal quarters ending through maturity. The maximum leverage ratios are set forth as follows: 2.0 to 1.0 for fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2013 and thereafter. The fixed charge ratio, which only pertains to the revolving credit facility and is only tested in limited situations, is 1.0 to 1.0 through the end of the facility. As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants.
	Loan Guarantees
	Under both the revolving credit facility and the term loan facility, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers Inc., HMH Publishers LLC and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company are the borrowers (collectively, the “Borrowers”), and Citibank, N.A. acts as both the administrative agent and the collateral agent.
	The obligations under our senior secured credit facilities are guaranteed by the Company and each of its direct and indirect for profit domestic subsidiaries (other than the Borrowers) (collectively, the “Guarantors”) and are secured by all capital stock and other equity interests of the Borrowers and the Guarantors and substantially all of the other tangible and intangible assets of the Borrowers and the Guarantors, including, without limitation, receivables, inventory, equipment, contract rights, securities, patents, trademarks, other intellectual property, cash, bank accounts and securities accounts and owned real estate. The revolving credit facility is secured by first priority liens on receivables, inventory, deposit accounts, securities accounts, instruments, chattel paper and other assets related to the foregoing (the “Revolving First Lien Collateral”), and second priority liens on the collateral which secures the term loan facility on a first priority basis. The term loan facility is secured by first priority liens on the capital stock and other equity interests of the Borrower and the Guarantors, equipment, owned real estate, trademarks and other intellectual property, general intangibles that are not Revolving First Lien Collateral and other assets related to the foregoing, and second priority liens on the Revolving First Lien Collateral.

Severance_and_Other_Charges

Severance and Other Charges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Severance and Other Charges	'
	7	Severance and Other Charges
	2014
	During the three months ended March 31, 2014, $2.4 million of severance payments were made to employees whose employment ended in 2014 and prior years and $1.1 million of net payments for office space no longer utilized by the Company. Further, we recorded an expense in the amount of $1.8 million to reflect additional costs for severance, which we expect to pay over the next twelve months.
	2013
	During the three months ended March 31, 2013, $1.3 million of severance payments were made to employees whose employment ended in 2013 and prior years and $2.1 million of net payments for office space no longer utilized by the Company. Further, we recorded an expense in the amount of $1.9 million to reflect additional costs for severance , which we expect to pay over the next twelve months.
	A summary of the significant components of the severance/restructuring and other charges is as follows:
			2014
			Severance/		Severance/		Cash payments			Severance/
			restructuring		restructuring					restructuring
			accrual at		expense					accrual at
			December 31, 2013							March 31, 2014
	Severance costs		$	4,115	$	1,757	$	(2,442	)	$	3,430
	Other accruals			11,416		—		(1,084	)		10,332
			$	15,531	$	1,757	$	(3,526	)	$	13,762
			2013
			Severance/		Severance/		Cash payments			Severance/
			restructuring		restructuring					restructuring
			accrual at		expense					accrual at
			December 31, 2012							March 31, 2013
	Severance costs		$	2,142	$	1,648	$	(1,276	)	$	2,514
	Other accruals			16,148		280		(2,059	)		14,369
			$	18,290	$	1,928	$	(3,335	)	$	16,883
	The current portion of the severance and other charges is $7.2 million, and $8.2 million as of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	8	Income Taxes
	The computation of the annual estimated effective tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and significant judgment including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year, projections of the proportion of income earned and taxed in various jurisdictions, permanent and temporary differences, and the likelihood of recovering deferred tax assets generated in the current year. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, more experience is acquired, additional information is obtained or as the tax environment changes.
	At the end of each interim period, we estimate the annual effective tax rate and apply that rate to our ordinary quarterly earnings. The amount of interim tax benefit recorded for the year-to-date ordinary loss is limited to the amount that is expected to be realized during the year or recognizable as a deferred tax asset at year end. The tax expense or benefit related to significant, unusual or extraordinary items that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effect, and are individually computed, are recognized in the interim period in which those items occur. In addition, the effect of changes in enacted tax laws or rates or tax status is recognized in the interim period in which the change occurs.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we recorded an income tax expense of approximately $1.8 million and $2.0 million, respectively. For both periods, the income tax expense was impacted by certain discrete tax items including the accrual of potential interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions. Including the tax effects of these discrete tax items, the effective rate was 1.2% and 1.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
	Reserves for unrecognized tax benefits, excluding accrued interest, were $62.3 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and included in other long-term liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

Retirement_and_Postretirement_

Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans	'
	9	Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans
	We have a noncontributory, qualified defined benefit pension plan (the “Retirement Plan”), which covers certain employees. The Retirement Plan is a cash balance plan, which accrues benefits based on pay, length of service, and interest. We also have a nonqualified defined benefit plan, or nonqualified plan, that previously covered employees who earned over the qualified pay limit as determined by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. The nonqualified plan accrues benefits for the participants based on the cash balance plan calculation. In 2007, both the qualified and nonqualified pension plans eliminated participation in the plans for new employees hired after October 31, 2007. We also had a foreign defined benefit plan. On July 20, 2011, we entered into a bulk annuity policy with a third party which effectively terminated the foreign defined benefit plan. This policy covers all known plan beneficiaries and liabilities and represents a full transfer of the plan’s financial and longevity risk to the third party. The policy is held in the name of the plan trustees. This termination did not constitute a settlement of liability under applicable accounting guidance for pension plans. Following a full plan data cleansing, the bulk annuity policy is expected to be converted into individual annuity policies at which point the plan will be discharged of all future liability with respect to the plan beneficiaries. We anticipate the conversion to individual annuity policies along with the liability discharge likely to occur in 2014.
	We are required to recognize the funded status of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans as an asset or liability in the balance sheet and are required to recognize actuarial gains and losses and prior service costs and credits in other comprehensive income and subsequently amortize those items in the statement of operations. Further, we are required to use a measurement date equal to the fiscal year end.
	Net periodic benefit cost for our pension and other postretirement benefits plans consisted of the following:
			Pension Benefits
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2014			2013
	Interest cost		$	2,088		$	1,789
	Expected return on plan assets			(2,701	)		(2,468	)
	Amortization of net (gain) loss			2			83
	Net periodic benefit (credit) cost		$	(611	)	$	(596	)
			Other Post Retirement Benefits
			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2014			2013
	Service cost		$	45		$	56
	Interest cost			296			274
	Amortization of prior service cost			(345	)		(345	)
	Amortization of net (gain) loss			—			77
	Net periodic benefit (credit) cost		$	(4	)	$	62
	Contributions for the pension and post-retirement benefit plans for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013 were $2.0 million and $2.4 million, respectively.
	We expect to contribute an additional $6.8 million during the remainder of 2014.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	10	Fair Value Measurements
	The accounting standard for fair value measurements among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The accounting standard establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:
			Level 1		Observable input such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
			Level 2		Observable inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
			Level 3		Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
	Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on one or more of three valuation techniques identified in the tables below. Where more than one technique is noted, individual assets or liabilities were valued using one or more of the noted techniques. The valuation techniques are as follows:
		(a)	Market approach: Prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities;
		(b)	Cost approach: Amount that would be currently required to replace the service capacity of an asset (current replacement cost); and
		(c)	Income approach: Valuation techniques to convert future amounts to a single present amount based on market expectations (including present value techniques).
	On a recurring basis, we measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value, including our money market funds, short-term investments which consist of U.S. treasury securities and U.S. agency securities, and foreign exchange forward and option contracts. The accounting standard for fair value measurements defines fair value as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. In determining fair value, we utilize valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible as well as consider counterparty and its credit risk in its assessment of fair value.
	The following tables present our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			March 31,			Quoted Prices		Significant		Valuation
			2014			in Active		Other		Technique
						Markets for		Observable
						Identical Assets		Inputs
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Financial assets
	Money market funds		$	154,158		$	154,158	$	—	(a)
	U.S. treasury securities			48,026			48,026		—	(a)
	U.S. agency securities			52,535			—		52,535	(a)
	Foreign exchange derivatives			120			—		120	(a)
			$	254,839		$	202,184	$	52,655
			December 31,			Quoted Prices		Significant		Valuation
			2013			in Active		Other		Technique
						Markets for		Observable
						Identical Assets		Inputs
						(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Financial assets
	Money market funds		$	259,031		$	259,031	$	—	(a)
	U.S. treasury securities			57,076			57,076		—	(a)
	U.S. agency securities			54,645			—		54,645	(a)
	Foreign exchange derivatives			222			—		222	(a)
			$	370,974		$	316,107	$	54,867
	Our money market funds and U.S. treasury securities are classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using quoted prices in active markets for identical instruments. Our U.S. agency securities are classified within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued using other than quoted prices in active markets. In addition to $154.2 million and $259.0 million invested in money market funds as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, we had $13.6 million and $54.6 million of cash invested in bank accounts as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	Our foreign exchange derivatives consist of forward and option contracts and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because they are valued based on observable inputs and are available for substantially the full term of our derivative instruments. We use foreign exchange forward and option contracts to fix the functional currency value of forecasted commitments, payments and receipts. The aggregate notional amount of the outstanding foreign exchange forward and option contracts was $25.3 million and $24.1 million at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively. Our foreign exchange forward and option contracts contain netting provisions to mitigate credit risk in the event of counterparty default, including payment default and cross default. At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the fair value of our counterparty default exposure was less than $1.0 million and spread across several highly rated counterparties.
	The following table presents our nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during 2014 and 2013:
			March 31,			Significant		Total		Valuation
			2014			Unobservable		Impairment		Technique
						Inputs
						(Level 3)
	Nonfinancial liabilities
	Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions		$	1,911		$	1,911	$	—	(c)
			$	1,911		$	1,911	$	—
			December 31,			Significant		Total		Valuation
			2013			Unobservable		Impairment		Technique
						Inputs
						(Level 3)
	Nonfinancial assets
	Property, plant, and equipment		$	—		$	—	$	7,439	(b)
	Pre-publication costs			—			—		1,061	(b)
	Other intangible assets			4,200			4,200		500	(a)(c)
			$	4,200		$	4,200	$	9,000
	Nonfinancial liabilities
	Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions		$	1,881		$	1,881	$	—	(c)
			$	1,881		$	1,881	$	—
	Our nonfinancial assets, which include goodwill, other intangible assets, property, plant, and equipment, and pre-publication costs, are not required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. However, if certain trigger events occur, or if an annual impairment test is required, we evaluate the nonfinancial assets for impairment. If an impairment did occur, the asset is required to be recorded at the estimated fair value.
	We review software development costs, included within property, plant, and equipment, for impairment. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, no software development costs were impaired.
	Pre-publication costs recorded on the balance sheet are periodically reviewed for impairment by comparing the unamortized capitalized costs of the assets to the fair value of those assets. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013, no pre-publication costs were impaired.
	In evaluating goodwill for impairment, we first compare our reporting unit’s fair value to its carrying value. We estimate the fair values of our reporting units by considering market multiple and recent transaction values of peer companies, where available, and projected discounted cash flows, if reasonably estimable. There was no impairment recorded for goodwill for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013.
	We perform an impairment test for our other intangible assets by comparing the assets fair value to its carrying value. Fair value is estimated based on recent market transactions, where available, and projected discounted cash flows, if reasonably estimable. There was no impairment recorded for three months ended March 31, 2014 and March 31, 2013. The fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets are estimates, which are inherently subject to significant uncertainties, and actual results could vary significantly from these estimates.
	The fair value of an acquisition-related contingent consideration liability is affected most significantly by changes in the estimated probabilities of the contingencies being achieved.
	The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 liabilities measured on a recurring basis for March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
			Level 3
Inputs
Liabilities
Balance at December 31, 2012		$	5,055
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability, included in selling and administrative expenses			(1,599	)
Payments of contingent consideration liability			(1,575	)
Balance at December 31, 2013			1,881
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability, included in selling and administrative expenses			30
Balance at March 31, 2014		$	1,911
Fair Value of Debt
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair market values of our debt at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The fair value of debt is deemed to be the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
		March 31, 2014					December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Amount			Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
Debt
$250,000 term loan		$	245,000		$	246,531	$	245,625	$	247,774
The fair market values of our debt were estimated based on quoted market prices on a private exchange for those instruments that are traded and are classified as level 2 within the fair value hierarchy, at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The fair market values require varying degrees of management judgment. The factors used to estimate these values may not be valid on any subsequent date. Accordingly, the fair market values of the debt presented may not be indicative of their future values.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Commitments And Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Commitments and Contingencies	'
	11	Commitments and Contingencies
	Contingencies
	We are involved in ordinary and routine litigation and matters incidental to our business. Litigation alleging infringement of copyrights and other intellectual property rights has become extensive in the educational publishing industry. Specifically, there have been various settled, pending and threatened litigation that allege we exceeded the print run limitation or other restrictions in licenses granted to us to reproduce photographs in our textbooks. While management believes that there is a reasonable possibility we may incur a loss associated with the pending and threatened litigation, we are not able to estimate such amount, but we do not expect any of these matters to have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position or cash flows. We have insurance over such amounts and with coverage and deductibles as management believes is reasonable. There can be no assurance that our liability insurance will cover all events or that the limits of coverage will be sufficient to fully cover all liabilities. We were contingently liable for $23.0 million of performance related surety bonds for our operating activities as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. An aggregate of $19.3 million and $19.7 million of letters of credit existed as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, of which $2.4 million backed the aforementioned performance related surety bonds as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.
	We routinely enter into standard indemnification provisions as part of license agreements involving use of our intellectual property. These provisions typically require us to indemnify and hold harmless licensees in connection with any infringement claim by a third party relating to the intellectual property covered by the license agreement. The assessment business routinely enters into contracts with customers that contain provisions requiring us to indemnify the customer against a broad array of potential liabilities resulting from any breach of the contract or the invalidity of the test. Although the term of these provisions and the maximum potential amounts of future payments we could be required to make is not limited, we have never incurred any costs to defend or settle claims related to these types of indemnification provisions. We therefore believe the estimated fair value of these provisions is inconsequential, and have no liabilities recorded for them as of March 31 2014 and December 31, 2013.
	Concentration of Credit Risk and Significant Customers
	As of March 31, 2014, two customers represented approximately $121.9 million, or 46.8%, of our accounts receivable balance. We believe that our accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited and we have not experienced significant write-downs in our accounts receivable balances. There is a payable by the Company to one of the same customers in the amount of $2.5 million and there is a contractual right to offset such customer.
	As of December 31, 2013, two customers represented approximately $127.9 million, or 40.2%, of our accounts receivable balance. We believe that our accounts receivable credit risk exposure is limited and we have not experienced significant write-downs in our accounts receivable balances. There is a payable by the Company to one of the same customers in the amount of $4.6 million and there is a contractual right to offset with such customer.

Net_Loss_Per_Share

Net Loss Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Net Loss Per Share	'
	12	Net Loss Per Share
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”):
			For the Three			For the Three
			Months Ended			Months Ended
			March 31,			March 31,
			2014			2013
	Numerator
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders		$	(146,335	)	$	(137,381	)
	Denominator
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted			139,982,297			139,917,978
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted		$	(1.05	)	$	(0.98	)
	As we incurred a net loss in each of the periods presented above, all outstanding stock options and restricted stock units have an anti-dilutive effect and therefore are excluded from the computation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding. Accordingly, basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding are equal for such period.
	The following table summarizes our outstanding common stock equivalents that were anti-dilutive due to the net loss attributable to common stockholders during the periods, and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted EPS:
			For the Three			For the Three
			Months Ended			Months Ended
			March 31,			March 31,
			2014			2013
	Stock options			12,286,997			9,354,515
	Restricted stock units			296,752			76,879

Segment_Reporting

Segment Reporting	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Reporting	'
	13	Segment Reporting
	As of March 31, 2014, we had two reportable segments (Education and Trade Publishing). Our Education segment provides educational products, technology platforms and services to meet the diverse needs of today’s classrooms. These products and services include print and digital content in the form of textbooks, digital courseware, instructional aids, educational assessment and intervention solutions, which are aimed at improving achievement and supporting learning for students that are not keeping pace with peers, professional development and school reform services. Our Trade Publishing segment primarily develops, markets and sells consumer books in print and digital formats and licenses book rights to other publishers and electronic businesses in the United States and abroad. The principal markets for Trade Publishing products are retail stores, both physical and online, and wholesalers. Reference materials are also sold to schools, colleges, libraries, office supply distributors and other businesses.
	We measure and evaluate our reportable segments based on net sales and segment Adjusted EBITDA. We exclude from segment Adjusted EBITDA certain corporate related expenses, as our corporate functions do not meet the definition of a segment, as defined in the accounting guidance relating to segment reporting. In addition, certain transactions or adjustments that our Chief Operating Decision Maker considers to be unusual and/or non-operational, such as amounts related to goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charges and restructuring related charges, as well as amortization expenses, are excluded from segment Adjusted EBITDA. Although we exclude these amounts from segment Adjusted EBITDA, they are included in reported consolidated operating income (loss) and are included in the reconciliation below.
	(in thousands)		Three Months Ended March 31,									Total
			Education			Trade			Corporate/
						Publishing			Other
	2014
	Net sales		$	121,874		$	32,059		$	—		$	153,933
	Segment Adjusted EBITDA			(40,227	)		(1,318	)		(11,650	)		(53,195	)
	2013
	Net sales		$	126,827		$	39,767		$	—		$	166,594
	Segment Adjusted EBITDA			(26,613	)		6,660			(12,488	)		(32,441	)
	Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to the consolidated statements of operations is as follows:
	(in thousands)		Three Months Ended March 31,
			2014			2013
	Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA		$	(53,195	)	$	(32,441	)
	Interest expense			(4,297	)		(5,907	)
	Depreciation expense			(17,239	)		(14,342	)
	Amortization expense			(62,670	)		(76,358	)
	Stock compensation			(2,397	)		(1,587	)
	Gain (loss) on derivative instruments			(103	)		(530	)
	Purchase accounting adjustments			(575	)		(2,045	)
	Fees, expenses or charges for equity offerings, debt or acquisitions			(2,114	)		(288	)
	Restructuring			(205	)		—
	Severance, separation costs and facility closures			(1,757	)		(1,928	)
	Loss from continuing operations before taxes			(144,552	)		(135,426	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes			(1,783	)		(1,955	)
	Net loss		$	(146,335	)	$	(137,381	)

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Inventories	'
	Inventories consisted of the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Finished goods	$	201,067	$	177,017
	Raw materials		7,764		5,177
	Inventory	$	208,831	$	182,194

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets	'
	Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:
		March 31, 2014					December 31, 2013
		Cost		Accumulated			Cost		Accumulated
				Amortization					Amortization
	Goodwill	$	531,786	$	—		$	531,786	$	—
	Trademarks and tradenames		440,005		—			440,005		—
	Publishing rights		1,180,000		(814,688	)		1,180,000		(783,937	)
	Customer related and other		283,172		(202,191	)		283,172		(199,246	)
		$	2,434,963	$	(1,016,879	)	$	2,434,963	$	(983,183	)

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Components of Debt	'
	Our debt consisted of the following:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	$250,000 term loan due May 21, 2018 interest payable monthly	$	245,000	$	245,625
			245,000		245,625
	Less: Current portion of long-term debt		2,500		2,500
	Total long-term debt	$	242,500	$	243,125

Severance_and_Other_Charges_Ta

Severance and Other Charges (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring And Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Components of Severance/Restructuring and Other Charges	'
	A summary of the significant components of the severance/restructuring and other charges is as follows:
		2014
		Severance/		Severance/		Cash			Severance/
		restructuring		restructuring		payments			restructuring
		accrual at		expense					accrual at
		December 31, 2013							March 31, 2014
	Severance costs	$	4,115	$	1,757	$	(2,442	)	$	3,430
	Other accruals		11,416		—		(1,084	)		10,332
		$	15,531	$	1,757	$	(3,526	)	$	13,762
		2013
		Severance/		Severance/		Cash			Severance/
		restructuring		restructuring		payments			restructuring
		accrual at		expense					accrual at
		December 31, 2012							March 31, 2013
	Severance costs	$	2,142	$	1,648	$	(1,276	)	$	2,514
	Other accruals		16,148		280		(2,059	)		14,369
		$	18,290	$	1,928	$	(3,335	)	$	16,883

Retirement_and_Postretirement_1

Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	Net periodic benefit cost for our pension and other postretirement benefits plans consisted of the following:
		Pension Benefits
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Interest cost	$	2,088		$	1,789
	Expected return on plan assets		(2,701	)		(2,468	)
	Amortization of net (gain) loss		2			83
	Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	(611	)	$	(596	)
		Other Post Retirement Benefits
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Service cost	$	45		$	56
	Interest cost		296			274
	Amortization of prior service cost		(345	)		(345	)
	Amortization of net (gain) loss		—			77
	Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	$	(4	)	$	62

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis	'
	The following tables present our financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		March 31,			Quoted Prices		Significant		Valuation
		2014			in Active		Other		Technique
					Markets for		Observable
					Identical Assets		Inputs
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Financial assets
	Money market funds	$	154,158		$	154,158	$	—	(a)
	U.S. treasury securities		48,026			48,026		—	(a)
	U.S. agency securities		52,535			—		52,535	(a)
	Foreign exchange derivatives		120			—		120	(a)
		$	254,839		$	202,184	$	52,655
		December 31,			Quoted Prices		Significant		Valuation
		2013			in Active		Other		Technique
					Markets for		Observable
					Identical Assets		Inputs
					(Level 1)		(Level 2)
	Financial assets
	Money market funds	$	259,031		$	259,031	$	—	(a)
	U.S. treasury securities		57,076			57,076		—	(a)
	U.S. agency securities		54,645			—		54,645	(a)
	Foreign exchange derivatives		222			—		222	(a)
		$	370,974		$	316,107	$	54,867
Summary of Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis	'
	The following table presents our nonfinancial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis during 2014 and 2013:
		March 31,			Significant		Total		Valuation
		2014			Unobservable		Impairment		Technique
					Inputs
					(Level 3)
	Nonfinancial liabilities
	Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions	$	1,911		$	1,911	$	—	(c)
		$	1,911		$	1,911	$	—
		December 31,			Significant		Total		Valuation
		2013			Unobservable		Impairment		Technique
					Inputs
					(Level 3)
	Nonfinancial assets
	Property, plant, and equipment	$	—		$	—	$	7,439	(b)
	Pre-publication costs		—			—		1,061	(b)
	Other intangible assets		4,200			4,200		500	(a)(c)
		$	4,200		$	4,200	$	9,000
	Nonfinancial liabilities
	Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions	$	1,881		$	1,881	$	—	(c)
		$	1,881		$	1,881	$	—
Summary of Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis	'
	The following table presents a summary of changes in fair value of the Company’s Level 3 liabilities measured on a recurring basis for March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Level 3
		Inputs
		Liabilities
	Balance at December 31, 2012	$	5,055
	Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability, included in selling and administrative expenses		(1,599	)
	Payments of contingent consideration liability		(1,575	)
	Balance at December 31, 2013		1,881
	Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability, included in selling and administrative expenses		30
	Balance at March 31, 2014	$	1,911
Summary of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Market Values of Debt	'
	The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair market values of our debt at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The fair value of debt is deemed to be the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.
		March 31, 2014					December 31, 2013
		Carrying			Estimated		Carrying		Estimated
		Amount			Fair Value		Amount		Fair Value
	Debt
	$250,000 term loan	$	245,000		$	246,531	$	245,625	$	247,774

Net_Loss_Per_Share_Tables

Net Loss Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share	'
	The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”):
		For the Three			For the Three
		Months Ended			Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Numerator
	Net loss attributable to common stockholders	$	(146,335	)	$	(137,381	)
	Denominator
	Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted		139,982,297			139,917,978
	Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	$	(1.05	)	$	(0.98	)
Summary of Anti-dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted EPS	'
	The following table summarizes our outstanding common stock equivalents that were anti-dilutive due to the net loss attributable to common stockholders during the periods, and therefore excluded from the computation of diluted EPS:
		For the Three			For the Three
		Months Ended			Months Ended
		March 31,			March 31,
		2014			2013
	Stock options		12,286,997			9,354,515
	Restricted stock units		296,752			76,879

Segment_Reporting_Tables

Segment Reporting (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Consolidated Revenue	'
	Although we exclude these amounts from segment Adjusted EBITDA, they are included in reported consolidated operating income (loss) and are included in the reconciliation below.
	(in thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31,									Total
		Education			Trade			Corporate/
					Publishing			Other
	2014
	Net sales	$	121,874		$	32,059		$	—		$	153,933
	Segment Adjusted EBITDA		(40,227	)		(1,318	)		(11,650	)		(53,195	)
	2013
	Net sales	$	126,827		$	39,767		$	—		$	166,594
	Segment Adjusted EBITDA		(26,613	)		6,660			(12,488	)		(32,441	)
Schedule of Consolidated Statements of Operations	'
	Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to the consolidated statements of operations is as follows:
	(in thousands)	Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013
	Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA	$	(53,195	)	$	(32,441	)
	Interest expense		(4,297	)		(5,907	)
	Depreciation expense		(17,239	)		(14,342	)
	Amortization expense		(62,670	)		(76,358	)
	Stock compensation		(2,397	)		(1,587	)
	Gain (loss) on derivative instruments		(103	)		(530	)
	Purchase accounting adjustments		(575	)		(2,045	)
	Fees, expenses or charges for equity offerings, debt or acquisitions		(2,114	)		(288	)
	Restructuring		(205	)		—
	Severance, separation costs and facility closures		(1,757	)		(1,928	)
	Loss from continuing operations before taxes		(144,552	)		(135,426	)
	Provision (benefit) for income taxes		(1,783	)		(1,955	)
	Net loss	$	(146,335	)	$	(137,381	)

Basis_of_Presentation_Addition

Basis of Presentation - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011
	Country		Previously Reported [Member]	Reducing net sales [Member]	Incremental expense [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]	Consolidated net sales [Member]
	Student
Collaborative Arrangements and Non-collaborative Arrangement Transactions [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Services provided to number of students	50,000,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Services provided to number of countries	150	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prior period adjustment description	'During the first quarter of 2014, we recorded an out of period correction of approximately $1.1 million reducing net sales and increasing deferred revenue that should have been deferred previously. In addition, during the first quarter of 2014, we recorded approximately $3.5 million of incremental expense, primarily commissions, related to the prior year. These out of period corrections had no impact on our debt covenant compliance. Management believes these out of period corrections are not material to the current period financial statements or any previously issued financial statements and does not expect them to be material for the full fiscal year 2014. Additionally, we revised previously reported balance sheet amounts to severance and other charges of $7.3 million, which has been reclassified as long term and to current deferred revenue of $5.2 million which has also been reclassified as long term. The revision was not material to the reported consolidated balance sheet for any previously filed periods.	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Prior period correction amounts	'	'	'	$1,100,000	$3,500,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Severance and other charges	7,232,000	8,184,000	7,300,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Current deferred revenue	$105,277,000	$107,905,000	$5,200,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Consolidated net sales, realized percentage	'	'	'	'	'	67.00%	67.00%	67.00%	67.00%	67.00%	67.00%

Inventories_Schedule_of_Invent

Inventories - Schedule of Inventories (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Inventory Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Finished goods	$201,067	$177,017
Raw materials	7,764	5,177
Inventory	$208,831	$182,194

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_2

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Schedule of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	$2,434,963	$2,434,963
Goodwill	531,786	531,786
Accumulated Amortization	-1,016,879	-983,183
Trademarks and tradenames [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Trademarks and tradenames	440,005	440,005
Publishing rights [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	1,180,000	1,180,000
Accumulated Amortization	-814,688	-783,937
Customer related and other [Member]	'	'
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]	'	'
Cost	283,172	283,172
Accumulated Amortization	($202,191)	($199,246)

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangible_3

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Intangible Liability Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Amortization expense	$33.70	$50.20

Debt_Components_of_Debt_Detail

Debt - Components of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	$245,000	$245,625
Less: Current portion of long-term debt	2,500	2,500
Total long-term debt	242,500	243,125
Term loan [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt	$245,000	$245,625

Debt_Components_of_Debt_Parent

Debt - Components of Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Term loan [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Term loan [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Term Loan, face amount	$250,000
Term Loan, due date	21-May-18

Debt_Additional_Information_De

Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jan. 15, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Reduction in interest rate	1.00%	'
Expense relating to third party transaction fees	'	$1
Financial covenants, description	'	'We are required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants as defined under our term loan facility and revolving credit facility. We have financial covenants pertaining to interest coverage, maximum leverage, and fixed charge ratios. The interest coverage ratio is now 9.0 to 1.0 for fiscal quarters ending through maturity. The maximum leverage ratios are set forth as follows: 2.0 to 1.0 for fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2013 and thereafter. The fixed charge ratio, which only pertains to the revolving credit facility and is only tested in limited situations, is 1.0 to 1.0 through the end of the facility.
Fixed charge ratio	'	1
Debt covenants, compliance	'	'As of March 31, 2014, we were in compliance with all of our debt covenants.
Fiscal quarters ending through maturity [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest coverage ratio	'	9
Fiscal quarters ending December 31, 2013 and thereafter [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum leverage ratio	'	2

Severance_and_Other_Charges_Ad

Severance and Other Charges - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments for severance cost and office space no longer utilized	$3,526	$3,335	'
Additional severance costs	1,757	1,928	'
Severance costs payment period	'12 months	'12 months	'
Severance and other charges, current	7,232	'	8,184
Severance costs [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments for severance cost and office space no longer utilized	2,442	1,276	'
Additional severance costs	1,757	1,648	'
Other accruals [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Payments for severance cost and office space no longer utilized	1,084	2,059	'
Additional severance costs	'	$280	'

Severance_and_Other_Charges_Co

Severance and Other Charges - Components of Severance/Restructuring and Other Charges (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Beginning balance	$15,531	$18,290
Severance/restructuring expense	1,757	1,928
Cash payments	-3,526	-3,335
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Ending balance	13,762	16,883
Severance costs [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Beginning balance	4,115	2,142
Severance/restructuring expense	1,757	1,648
Cash payments	-2,442	-1,276
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Ending balance	3,430	2,514
Other accruals [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Beginning balance	11,416	16,148
Severance/restructuring expense	'	280
Cash payments	-1,084	-2,059
Severance/ restructuring accrual, Ending balance	$10,332	$14,369

Income_Taxes_Additional_Inform

Income Taxes - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'	'
Income tax expense	$1,783,000	$1,955,000	'
Effective tax rate	1.20%	1.40%	'
Reserves for unrecognized tax benefits	$62,300,000	'	$62,300,000

Retirement_and_Postretirement_2

Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Other post retirement benefits [Member]	'	'
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Service cost	$45	$56
Interest cost	296	274
Amortization of prior service cost	-345	-345
Amortization of net (gain) loss	'	77
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	-4	62
Pension benefits [Member]	'	'
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Interest cost	2,088	1,789
Expected return on plan assets	-2,701	-2,468
Amortization of net (gain) loss	2	83
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost	($611)	($596)

Retirement_and_Postretirement_3

Retirement and Postretirement Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Compensation And Retirement Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Contributions for the pension and post retirement benefit plans	$2	$2.40
Expected additional contribution during the remainder of 2014	$6.80	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Financial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	$254,839	$370,974
Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	154,158	259,031
U.S. treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	48,026	57,076
U.S. agency securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	52,535	54,645
Foreign exchange derivatives [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	120	222
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	202,184	316,107
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	154,158	259,031
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member] | U.S. treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	48,026	57,076
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member] | U.S. agency securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member] | Foreign exchange derivatives [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	52,655	54,867
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | U.S. treasury securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | U.S. agency securities [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	52,535	54,645
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | Foreign exchange derivatives [Member]	'	'
Financial assets	'	'
Financial assets	$120	$222

Fair_Value_Measurements_Additi

Fair Value Measurements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	$254,839,000	'	$370,974,000
Goodwill impairment	0	0	'
Maximum [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Fair value of counterparty default exposure	1,000,000	'	1,000,000
Foreign exchange forward and option contracts [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Aggregate notional amount of derivative instrument	25,300,000	'	24,100,000
Software development costs [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	'
Pre-publication costs [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	'
Other intangible assets [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Impairment of intangible assets	0	0	'
Money market funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	154,158,000	'	259,031,000
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	202,184,000	'	316,107,000
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 1) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	154,158,000	'	259,031,000
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	52,655,000	'	54,867,000
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | Money market funds [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	'	'	'
Significant other observable inputs (level 2) [Member] | Bank time deposits [Member]	'	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]	'	'	'
Financial assets	$13,600,000	'	$54,600,000

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar1

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Nonfinancial Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on Nonrecurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	$4,200	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities, Total	1,881	1,911
Total Impairment	9,000	'
Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities, Total	1,881	1,911
Significant unobservable inputs (level 3) [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	4,200	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities, Total	1,881	1,911
Significant unobservable inputs (level 3) [Member] | Contingent consideration liability associated with acquisitions [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities, Total	1,881	1,911
Property, plant, and equipment [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Total Impairment	7,439	'
Property, plant, and equipment [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (level 3) [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	'	'
Pre-publication costs [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	'	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Total Impairment	1,061	'
Pre-publication costs [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (level 3) [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	'	'
Other intangible assets [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	4,200	'
Nonfinancial liabilities	'	'
Total Impairment	500	'
Other intangible assets [Member] | Significant unobservable inputs (level 3) [Member]	'	'
Nonfinancial assets	'	'
Nonfinancial assets, Total	$4,200	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar2

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Changes in Fair Value of Level 3 Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument Fair Value Carrying Value [Abstract]	'	'
Beginning Balance	$1,881	$5,055
Change in fair value of contingent consideration liability, included in selling and administrative expenses	30	-1,599
Payments of contingent consideration liability	'	-1,575
Ending Balance	$1,911	$1,881

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar3

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Market Values of Debt (Detail) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Schedule Of Carrying Values And Estimated Fair Values Of Debt Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Debt, carrying value	$245,000	$245,625
Term loan [Member]	'	'
Schedule Of Carrying Values And Estimated Fair Values Of Debt Instruments [Line Items]	'	'
Debt, carrying value	245,000	245,625
Debt, estimated fair value	$246,531	$247,774

Fair_Value_Measurements_Summar4

Fair Value Measurements - Summary of Carrying Amounts and Estimated Fair Market Values of Debt (Parenthetical) (Detail) (Term loan [Member], USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
Term loan [Member]	'
Schedule Of Carrying Values And Estimated Fair Values Of Debt Instruments [Line Items]	'
Debt instrument amount	$250,000

Commitments_and_Contingencies_

Commitments and Contingencies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	Customer	Customer
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Contingently liable performance related surety bonds	$23,000,000	$23,000,000
Aggregate letter of credit	19,300,000	19,700,000
Letter of credit backed by performance related surety bonds	2,400,000	2,400,000
Indemnification liabilities	0	0
Concentration Risk, Amount	260,247,000	318,101,000
Customer Concentration Risk [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Concentration Risk, Number of customers	2	2
Concentration Risk, Amount	121,900,000	127,900,000
Concentration Risk, percentage	46.80%	40.20%
Payable [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Payable to customers	'	4,600,000
Customer one [Member]	'	'
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]	'	'
Accounts Payable	$2,500,000	'

Net_Loss_Per_Share_Computation

Net Loss Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Numerator	'	'
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	($146,335)	($137,381)
Denominator	'	'
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted	139,982,297	139,917,978
Net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, basic and diluted	($1.05)	($0.98)

Net_Loss_Per_Share_Summary_of_

Net Loss Per Share - Summary of Anti-dilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Diluted EPS (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Stock options [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted EPS	12,286,997	9,354,515
Restricted stock units [Member]	'	'
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share [Line Items]	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of diluted EPS	296,752	76,879

Segment_Reporting_Additional_I

Segment Reporting - Additional Information (Detail)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
	Segment
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Number of reportable segment	2

Segment_Reporting_Consolidated

Segment Reporting - Consolidated Operating Income (Loss) (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	$153,933	$166,594
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	-53,195	-32,441
Operating Segments [Member] | Education [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	121,874	126,827
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	-40,227	-26,613
Operating Segments [Member] | Trade publishing [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	32,059	39,767
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	-1,318	6,660
Corporate/other [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Net sales	'	'
Segment Adjusted EBITDA	($11,650)	($12,488)

Segment_Reporting_Consolidated1

Segment Reporting - Consolidated Statements of Operations (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'	'
Total Segment Adjusted EBITDA	($53,195)	($32,441)
Interest expense	-4,297	-5,907
Depreciation expense	-17,239	-14,342
Amortization expense	-62,670	-76,358
Stock compensation	-2,397	-1,586
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments	-103	-530
Purchase accounting adjustments	-575	-2,045
Fees, expenses or charges for equity offerings, debt or acquisitions	-2,114	-288
Restructuring	-205	'
Severance, separation costs and facility closures	-1,757	-1,928
Loss before taxes	-144,552	-135,426
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	-1,783	-1,955
Net loss	($146,335)	($137,381)