GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 Group		Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Number of asset groups impaired	2
Pre tax charge for impairment of leasehold improvements	$ 1,700,000
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill [Abstract]
Goodwill	117,176,000
Accumulated impairment losses	(51,649,000)
Goodwill	65,527,000			65,527,000
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization	100,000		100,000
Total	727,000
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross carrying amount, Total	3,163,000
Write-off	(25,000)	[1]
Gross carrying amount, Total	3,138,000
Accumulated amortization, Total	932,000
Write-off	(25,000)	[1]
Amortization	56,000
Accumulated amortization, Total	963,000
Net carrying amount	2,175,000
Amortization of intangible assets	100,000		100,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Remainder of 2013	168,000
2014	224,000
2015	156,000
2016	112,000
2017	46,000
Thereafter	21,000
Total	727,000
Indefinite Trade Name [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	180,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	180,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	0
Write-off	0	[1]
Amortization	0
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0
Net carrying amount	180,000
Accreditation [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	1,268,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	1,268,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	0
Write-off	0	[1]
Amortization	0
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0
Net carrying amount	1,268,000
Student Contracts [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	25,000
Write-off	(25,000)	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	0
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	25,000
Write-off	(25,000)	[1]
Amortization	0
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0
Total	0
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	0
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	0
Trade Name [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	366,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	366,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	209,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Amortization	12,000
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	221,000
Total	145,000
Weighted average amortization period	7 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	12,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	145,000
Curriculum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	1,124,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	1,124,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	670,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Amortization	34,000
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	704,000
Total	420,000
Weighted average amortization period	9 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	34,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	420,000
Non-compete [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance	200,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	200,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance	28,000
Write-off	0	[1]
Amortization	10,000
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	38,000
Total	162,000
Weighted average amortization period	3 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets	10,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	$ 162,000

[1] The Company wrote-off the value of fully amortized assets not in service.