GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 Unit Campus	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013 Unit Campus	Mar. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013 Campus	Sep. 30, 2014 Campus	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]
Number of asset groups impaired	6		2		2	6
Pre tax charge for impairment of leasehold improvements	$ 1,900,000		$ 1,400,000	$ 1,700,000	$ 1,400,000	$ 1,900,000
Pre tax charge for impairment of intangible assets	500,000					500,000
Asset impairment charges including discontinued operations				1,600,000	700,000
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill [Abstract]
Gross Goodwill Balance	117,176,000					117,176,000		117,176,000
Accumulated Impairment Losses	(93,665,000)					(93,665,000)		(54,711,000)
Net Goodwill Balance	23,511,000					23,511,000		62,465,000
Goodwill impairment	(39,000,000)		(3,100,000)			(38,954,000)
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Amortization	100,000	100,000				100,000	200,000
Net carrying amount at end of period	149,000					149,000
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Gross carrying amount, Total						3,005,000
Impairment						(1,081,000)
Gross carrying amount, Total	1,924,000					1,924,000
Accumulated amortization, Total						1,124,000
Amortization						142,000
Impairment						(555,000)
Accumulated amortization, Total	711,000					711,000
Net carrying amount	1,213,000					1,213,000
Amortization of intangible assets	100,000	100,000				100,000	200,000
Number of reporting unit tested for recoverability of long-lived assets	10		2
Goodwill impairment	39,000,000		3,100,000			38,954,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Remainder of 2014	21,000					21,000
2015	65,000					65,000
2016	22,000					22,000
2017	20,000					20,000
2018	20,000					20,000
Thereafter	1,000					1,000
Total	149,000					149,000
Indefinite Trade Name [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance						180,000
Impairment						(180,000)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	0					0
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance						0
Amortization						0
Impairment						0
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0					0
Net carrying amount	0					0
Accreditation [Member]
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance						1,166,000
Impairment						(102,000)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	1,064,000					1,064,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance						0
Amortization						0
Impairment						0
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0					0
Net carrying amount	1,064,000					1,064,000
Trade Name [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance						335,000
Impairment						(25,000)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	310,000					310,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance						228,000
Amortization						37,000
Impairment						(12,000)
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	253,000					253,000
Net carrying amount at end of period	57,000					57,000
Weighted average amortization period						7 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets						37,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	57,000					57,000
Curriculum [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance						1,124,000
Impairment						(574,000)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	550,000					550,000
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance						828,000
Amortization						78,000
Impairment						(448,000)
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	458,000					458,000
Net carrying amount at end of period	92,000					92,000
Weighted average amortization period						10 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets						78,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	92,000					92,000
Non-compete [Member]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Gross carrying amount, beginning balance						200,000
Impairment						(200,000)
Gross carrying amount, ending balance	0					0
Accumulated amortization, beginning balance						68,000
Amortization						27,000
Impairment						(95,000)
Accumulated amortization, ending balance	0					0
Net carrying amount at end of period	0					0
Weighted average amortization period						0 years
Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract]
Amortization of intangible assets						27,000
Estimated future amortization expense [Abstract]
Total	$ 0					$ 0