PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross		$ 179,637		$ 189,949
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization		(124,192)		(123,324)
Property, equipment and facilities, Net		55,445		66,625
Depreciation and amortization expense		10,900		10,200		$ 14,500
Assets held for sale [Abstract]
Inventories		629		646
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $3,930 and $3,261 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively		5,089		4,526
Prepaid expense and other current assets		460		724
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance of $212 and $189 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively		1,690		1,384
Property, equipment and facilities - at cost, net of accumluated depreciation and amortization of $41,703 and $34,751 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively	[1],[2]	16,847		27,133
Goodwill		0	[3]	8,759	[3]	$ 1,300	$ 38,800
Other assets, net	[4]	71		1,197
Assets held for sale		24,786		44,369
Liabilities held for sale [Abstract]
Unearned tuition		(7,255)		(7,929)
Accrued expenses		(2,553)		(2,668)
Accrued rent		(1,770)		(1,735)
Liabilities held for sale		(11,578)		(12,332)
Assets held for sale, net		13,208		32,037
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Accounts receivable, allowance		3,930		3,261
Noncurrent receivables, allowance		212		189
Property, equipment and facilities - accumulated depreciation and amortization		41,703		34,751
Long-lived Assets [Member]
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Reduction in impairment charge		7,600
Goodwill [Member]
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Reduction in impairment charge		8,800
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member]
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Reduction in impairment charge		1,100
Land [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross	[5]	6,969		10,054
Buildings and Improvements [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross	[5]	$ 105,433		112,281
Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Useful life	[5]	1 year
Buildings and Improvements [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Useful life	[5]	25 years
Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross		$ 65,776		66,838
Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Useful life		1 year
Equipment, Furniture and Fixtures [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Useful life		7 years
Vehicles [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Useful life		3 years
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross		$ 534		617
Construction in Progress [Member]
Property, equipment and facilities net [Abstract]
Property, equipment and facilities, Gross		925		$ 159
West Palm Beach Property [Member]
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Reduction in impairment charge		2,500
Suffield [Member]
Long lived assets held for sale, other information [Abstract]
Reduction in impairment charge		$ 1,400

[1] Amount is reduced by a $2.5 million impairment charge in 2016 related to a property in West Palm Beach, Florida.

[2] Amount is reduced by a $7.6 million impairment charge in 2016 related to long-lived assets.

[3] Amount is reduced by an $8.8 million impairment charge in 2016 related to goodwill.

[4] Amount is reduced by a $1.1 million impairment charge in 2016 related to indefinite-lived assets.

[5] Amounts are reduced by a $1.4 million impairment charge in 2016 related to a property in Suffield, Connecticut.