UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

☒
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024

or

☐
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from______ to______

Commission File Number 000-51371

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New Jersey
  
57-1150621
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
  
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

14 Sylvan Way, Suite A
  
07054
Parsippany, NJ
  
(Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)
    

(973) 736-9340
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class
Trading
Symbol(s)
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, no par value per share
LINC
The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒  No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes ☒  No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 
Large accelerated filer ☐
Accelerated filer ☒
 
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☒
 
Emerging growth company ☐
  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒

As of  May 6, 2024, there were 31,443,711 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock outstanding.

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2024

PART I.
 2
Item 1.
2
 
2
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
9
Item 2.
21
Item 3.
30
Item 4.
30
PART II.
31
Item 1.
31
Item 1A.
31
Item 2.
31
Item 3.
32
Item 4.
32
Item 5.
32
Item 6.
33
 
34

Forward-Looking Statements
 
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which include information relating to future events, future financial performance, strategies, expectations, competitive environment, regulation and availability of resources. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding proposed new programs, expectations that regulatory developments or other matters will or will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, statements concerning projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to our business, financial and operating results and future economic performance; and statements of management’s goals and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Words such as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar expressions, as well as statements in future tense, identify forward-looking statements.
 
Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to the following:
 
•
compliance with the extensive existing regulatory framework applicable to our industry or our failure to timely obtain and maintain regulatory approvals and accreditation;
•
compliance with continuous changes in applicable federal laws and regulations including pending rulemaking by the U.S. Department of Education;
•
the effect of current and future Title IV Program regulations arising out of negotiated rulemakings, including any potential reductions in funding or restrictions on the use of funds received through Title IV Programs;
•
successful updating and expansion of the content of existing programs and developing new programs in a cost-effective manner or on a timely basis;
•
uncertainties regarding our ability to comply with federal laws and regulations regarding the 90/10 Rule and cohort default rates;
•
successful implementation of our strategic plan;
•
our inability to maintain eligibility for or to process federal student financial assistance;
•
regulatory investigations of, or actions commenced against, us or other companies in our industry;
•
changes in the state regulatory environment or budgetary constraints;
•
enrollment declines or challenges in our students’ ability to find employment as a result of economic conditions;
•
maintenance and expansion of existing industry relationships and develop new industry relationships;
•
a loss of members of our senior management or other key employees;
•
uncertainties associated with opening of new campuses and closing existing campuses;
•
uncertainties associated with integration of acquired schools;
•
industry competition;
•
the effect of any cybersecurity incident;
•
the effect of public health outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics including, without limitation, COVID-19 conditions and trends in our industry;
•
general economic conditions; and
•
other factors discussed under the headings “Business,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made.  Except as required under the federal securities laws and rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, we undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information.  We caution you not to unduly rely on the forward-looking statements when evaluating the information presented herein.

1
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.
Financial Statements

LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
    March 31,     December 31,  
 
2024
    
2023
  
ASSETS
            
CURRENT ASSETS:
            
Cash and cash equivalents
  
$
68,554
    
$
75,992
  
Restricted cash
     1,221       4,277  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $37,128 and $34,441 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
    
40,484
      
35,692
  
Inventories
    
2,419
      
2,948
  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    
6,071
      
5,556
  
Assets held for sale
     -       10,198  
Total current assets
    
118,749
      
134,663
  
                 
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $141,696 and $140,161 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
    
52,005
      
50,857
  
                 
OTHER ASSETS:
                
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance for credit losses of $19,211 and $19,370 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
    
17,360
      
17,504
  
Deferred finance charges
     420       -  
Deferred income taxes, net
    
22,796
      
23,217
  
Operating lease right-of-use assets
    
102,797
      
89,923
  
Finance lease right-of-use assets
    27,998       15,797  
Goodwill
    
10,742
      
10,742
  
Other assets, net
    
1,443
      
1,787
  
Pension plan assets, net
    853       759  
Total other assets
    
184,409
      
159,729
  
TOTAL ASSETS
  
$
355,163
    
$
345,249
  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
2
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)
    March 31,     December 31,  
 
2024
    
2023
  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
            
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
            
Unearned tuition
  
$
22,265
    
$
26,906
  
Accounts payable
    
14,282
      
18,152
  
Accrued expenses
    
9,206
      
13,713
  
Income taxes payable
    
2,287
      
2,832
  
Current portion of operating lease liabilities
    
11,842
      
11,737
  
Current portion of finance lease liabilities
    
-
      
70
  
Total current liabilities
    
59,882
      
73,410
  
                 
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:
                
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities
    
101,927
      
88,853
  
Long-term portion of finance lease liabilities
    28,809       16,126  
Other long-term liabilities
    52       56  
Total liabilities
    
190,670
      
178,445
  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
                
Common stock, no par value - authorized 100,000,000 shares at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, issued and outstanding 31,443,711 shares at March 31, 2024 and 31,359,110 shares at December 31, 2023.
    
48,181
      
48,181
  
Additional paid-in capital
    
47,283
      
49,380
  
Retained earnings
    
69,065
      
69,279
  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    
(36
)
    
(36
)
Total stockholders’ equity
    
164,493
      
166,804
  
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  
$
355,163
    
$
345,249
  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
3
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
             
REVENUE
  
$
103,366
    
$
87,284
  
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                
Educational services and facilities
    
43,023
      
38,093
  
Selling, general and administrative
    
60,492
      
50,307
  
Loss on sale of asset
     309       -  
Total costs & expenses
    
103,824
      
88,400
  
OPERATING LOSS
    
(458
)
    
(1,116
)
OTHER:
                
Interest income
     698       467  
Interest expense
    
(567
)
    
(25
)
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    
(327
)
    
(674
)
BENEFIT FOR INCOME TAXES
    
(113
)
    
(565
)
NET LOSS
  
$
(214
)
  
$
(109
)
Basic
               
Net loss per common share
  
$
(0.01
)
  
$
(0.00
 )
Diluted
               
Net loss per common share
   $
(0.01 )   $
(0.00 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
                
Basic
   
30,301
      
30,039
  
Diluted
    30,301       30,039  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

4
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

    Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Net loss
  
$
(214
)
  
$
(109
)
Other comprehensive loss
                
Employee pension plan adjustments, net of taxes (nil)
    
-
      
(48
)
Comprehensive loss
  
$
(214
)
  
$
(157
)

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

5
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(In thousands, except share amounts)
(Unaudited)

 
Stockholders’ Equity
  
                      Accumulated        
          Additional           Other        
   
Common Stock
    
Paid-in
    
Retained
    
Comprehensive
        
   
Shares
    
Amount
    
Capital
    
Earnings
    
Loss
    
Total
  
BALANCE - January 1, 2024
    
31,359,110
    
$
48,181
    
$
49,380
    
$
69,279
    
$
(36
)
  
$
166,804
  
Net loss
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
(214
)
    
-
      
(214
)
Stock-based compensation expense
                                                
Restricted stock
    
400,212
      
-
      
1,059
      
-
      
-
      
1,059
  
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
    
(315,611
)
    
-
      
(3,156
)
    
-
      
-
      
(3,156
)
BALANCE - March 31, 2024
    
31,443,711
    
$
48,181
    
$
47,283
    
$
69,065
    
$
(36
)
  
$
164,493
  

 
Stockholders’ Equity
  
           
           Accumulated        
          Additional
           Other        
   
  
Common Stock
    
Paid-in
    
Retained
    
Comprehensive
        
   
Shares
    
Amount
    
Capital
    
Earnings
   
Loss
    
Total
  
BALANCE - January 1, 2023
    
31,147,925
    
$
49,072
    
$
45,540
    
$
51,225
    
$
(960
)
  
$
144,877
  
Net cumulative effect from adoption of ASC 326 (a)
    -       -       -       (7,943 )     -       (7,943 )
Net loss
   
-
      
-
      
-
      
(109
)
    
-
      
(109
)
Employee pension plan adjustments
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
-
      
(48
)
    
(48
)
Stock-based compensation expense
                                                
Restricted stock
    
652,042
      
-
      
812
      
-
      
-
      
812
  
Share repurchase
    (104,030 )     (556 )     -       -       -       (556 )
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
    
(297,380
)
    
-
      
(1,779
)
    
-
      
-
      
(1,779
)
BALANCE - March 31, 2023
    
31,398,557
    
$
48,516
    
$
44,573
    
$
43,173
    
$
(1,008
)
  
$
135,254
  

(a) Net cumulative adjustment to equity based on the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. See Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

6
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
    Three Months Ended  
 
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
             
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
            
Net loss
 
$
(214
)
  
$
(109
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    
2,599
      
1,255
  
Finance lease amortization
    369       -  
Amortization of deferred finance charges
    18       -  
Deferred income taxes
    
421
      
-
  
Loss on sale of assets
    309       -  
Fixed asset donations
    
(98
)
    
(62
)
Provision for credit losses
   
12,213
      
8,233
  
Stock-based compensation expense
    
1,059
      
812
  
(Increase) decrease in assets:
                
Accounts receivable
    
(16,860
)
    
(8,663
)
Inventories
    
529
      
(18
)
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes payable
    
(545
)
    
(508
)
Prepaid expenses and current assets
    
(582
)
    
(1,636
)
Other assets, net
    
967
      
924
  
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
                
Accounts payable
    
(5,561
)
    
2,387
  
Accrued expenses
    
(4,511
)
    
353
  
Unearned tuition
    
(4,641
)
    
(3,175
)
Other liabilities
    
(406
)
    
(7
)
Total adjustments
    
(14,720
)
    
(105
)
Net cash used in operating activities
    
(14,934
)
    
(214
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                
Capital expenditures
    
(1,684
)
    
(3,249
)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment
   
9,718
      
-
  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
    
8,034
      
(3,249
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                
Payment of deferred finance fees
    
(438
)
    
-
  
Share repurchase
    -       (556 )
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation
    
(3,156
)
    
(1,779
)
Net cash used in financing activities
    
(3,594
)
    
(2,335
)
NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
   
(10,494
)
    
(5,798
)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—Beginning of period
    
80,269
      
50,287
  
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH—End of period
  
$
69,775
    
$
44,489
  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
7
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
(Continued)
    Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
             
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
            
Cash paid for:
            
Interest
  
$
34
    
$
94
  
Income taxes
  
$
10
    
$
-
  
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                
Liabilities accrued for or noncash additions of fixed assets
  
$
2,085
    
$
713
  

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).
8
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2024 AND 2023
(In thousands, except share and per share amounts and unless otherwise stated)
(Unaudited)

1.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business Activities— Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 22 campuses in 13 states, offers programs in skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), automotive technology, healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics), and information technology.  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations.  These financial statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2023 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“Form 10-K”), reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods.  The results of operations for the three months ending March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance. The Transitional segment refers to campuses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment. However, in the prior year, the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.

We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions, including those used to determine the incremental borrowing rate to calculate lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease term to calculate lease cost, revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, useful lives of fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

New Accounting Pronouncements – In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

9
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require that public business entities on an annual basis 1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, and 2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendments require disclosure about income taxes paid by federal, state and foreign taxes, and by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid is equal or greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid. The amendment also requires entities to disclose income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense disaggregated between domestic and foreign and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state and foreign. For all public business entities, ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024; early adoption is permitted.  We do not expect this ASU will have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Income Taxes— The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.

In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable.  A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and/or tax returns.  Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Position or Results of Operations. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not record any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions, as we do not have any uncertain tax positions.

2.
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) are determined in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share, which specifies the computation, presentation and disclosure requirements for EPS. Basic EPS excludes all dilutive Common Stock equivalents. It is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS, as calculated using the treasury stock method, reflects the potential dilution that would occur if our dilutive outstanding stock options and stock awards were issued.

The weighted average number of common shares used to compute basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:


  Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  

 
2024
    
2023
  
Basic shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    
-
      
-
  
Diluted shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  

10
For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, options to acquire 169,288 shares and 231,124 shares were excluded from the above table because the Company reported a net loss for each quarter and therefore their impact on reported earnings per share would have been antidilutive.

3.
REVENUE RECOGNITION

Substantially all of our revenues are considered to be revenues from our contracts with students.  The related accounts receivable balances are recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as student accounts receivable.  We do not have significant revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods, and we do not have any transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations other than in our unearned tuition.  We record revenue for students who withdraw from our schools only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.  Unearned tuition represents contract liabilities primarily related to our tuition revenue. We have elected not to provide disclosure about transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations if original contract durations are less than one year, or if we have the right to consideration from a student in an amount that corresponds directly with the value provided to the student for performance obligations completed to date in accordance with ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). We have assessed the costs incurred to obtain a contract with a student and determined them to be immaterial.

Unearned tuition in the amount of $22.3 million and $26.9 million is recorded as current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The change in this contract liability balance during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 is the result of payments received in advance of satisfying performance obligations, offset by revenue recognized during that period. Revenue recognized for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year was $21.6 million.

The following table depicts the timing of revenue recognition:


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
5,747
    
$
-
    
$
5,747
  
Services transferred over time
    
97,619
      
-
      
97,619
  
Total revenues
  
$
103,366
    
$
-
    
$
103,366
  


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
4,699
    
$
9
    
$
4,708
  
Services transferred over time
    
81,653
      
923
      
82,576
  
Total revenues
  
$
86,352
    
$
932
    
$
87,284
  

4.
LEASES

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company considers any contract where there is an identified asset as to which the Company has the right to control its use in determining whether the contract contains a lease.  An operating lease ROU asset represents the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are to be recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As all of the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available on the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We estimate the incremental borrowing rate based on a yield curve analysis, utilizing the interest rate derived from the fair value analysis of our credit facility and adjusting it for factors that appropriately reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the lease. The operating lease ROU assets include any lease payments made prior to the rent commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to 21 years. Lease terms may include options to extend the lease term used in determining the lease obligation when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.  Lease expense for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term for operating leases.

11
On October 31, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 100,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus in Houston, Texas.  The lease term commenced on January 2, 2024, with an initial lease term of 21 years and 6 months. The lease contains three five-year renewal options.

On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 120,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus in Nashville, Tennessee. The lease term commenced on November 1, 2023, with an initial lease term of 15 years. The lease contains two five-year renewal options.  See Note 12, “Real Estate Transactions”.

On September 28, 2023, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania for approximately $10.2 million and subsequently on January 30, 2024 entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for this property.  See Note 12, “Real Estate Transactions”.  As of December 31, 2023, this property was classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the sale was consummated in the first quarter of the current year.

The following table presents components of lease cost and classification on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:


 
  
   
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
in thousands
  
 Consolidated Statement of Operations Classification
  
2024
    
2023
  
Operating Lease Cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
  
$
4,800
    
$
4,872
  
Finance lease cost
  
 
    
     
 
Amortization of leased assets
  
 Depreciation and amortization
    
369
      
-
  
Interest on lease Liabilities
  
 Interest expense
    
487
      
-
  
Variable lease cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
    
88
      
66
  
 
  
      
  
$
5,744
    
$
4,938
  

The net change in ROU asset and finance lease liability is split between principal payments, interest expense and amortization expense. Principal payments are classified in the financing section, interest expense and amortization expense are broken out separately in the operating section of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our leases are as follows:

   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Cash flow information:
            
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
            
Operating Cash Flows - operating leases
   $ 4,495     $ 3,918  
Operating Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ 487     $ -  
Financing Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ -   $ -  
                 
Non-cash activity:
                
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
                
Operating leases
   $ 15,714     $ 2,142  
Finance leases
   $ 12,570     $ -  

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company entered into one new lease that resulted in noncash re-measurement of the related ROU asset and operating lease liability of $15.7 million.  In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company entered into one finance lease that resulted in a noncash re-measurement of the related ROU asset and finance lease liability of $12.6 million.

12
Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for our leases are as follows:


 
As of
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Weighted-average remaining lease term
  

   

 
Operating leases
   12.51 years
     11.15 years
  
Finance leases
   17.08 years
       -
  

             
Weighted-average discount rate
  
         
Operating leases
     6.84 %     6.99 %
Finance leases
     7.71 %     -  

Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for our leases as of March 31, 2024, are as follows:

    Operating Leases     Finance Leases  
Year ending December 31,
            
2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024)
  
$
13,558
     $ 1,216  
2025
    
18,086
       506  
2026
    
15,567
       2,817  
2027
    
12,681
       2,918  
2028
    
12,512
       3,023  
2029
    
10,637
       3,132  
Thereafter
    
84,883
       43,418  
Total lease payments
    
167,924
       57,030  
Less: imputed interest
    
(54,155
)
     (28,221 )
Present value of lease liabilities
  
$
113,769
     $ 28,809  

5.
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles annually, or more frequently if necessary, for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.  If the Company determines that an asset’s carrying value is impaired, it will record a write-down of the carrying value of the asset and charge the impairment as an operating expense in the period in which the determination is made.  For other long-lived assets, including ROU lease assets, the Company evaluates assets for recoverability when there is an indication of potential impairment. If the undiscounted cash flows from a group of assets being evaluated is less than the carrying value of that group of assets, the fair value of the asset group is determined and the carrying value of the asset group is written down to fair value.

When we perform the quantitative impairment test for long-lived assets, we examine estimated future cash flows using Level 3 inputs. These cash flows are evaluated by using weighted probability techniques as well as comparisons of past performance against projections. Assets may also be evaluated by identifying independent market values.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets.

13
The carrying amount of goodwill at March 31, 2024 is as follows:


 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
    
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
    
Net
Goodwill
Balance
  
Balance as of January 1, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  
Adjustments
    
-
      
-
   
-
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  

6.
LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit Facility

On February 16, 2024, the Company entered into a secured credit agreement (the “Fifth Third Credit Agreement”) with Fifth Third Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), pursuant to which the Company, as borrower, has obtained a revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $40.0 million including a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20.0 million accordion feature (the “Facility”), the proceeds of which are to be used for working capital, general corporate and certain other permitted purposes. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and is secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Bank on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. The term of the Facility is 36 months, maturing on February 16, 2027.

Each advance under the Facility will bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date when made at an interest rate determined at the election of the Company at either the Tranche Rate (which is the forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) for one or three months), or the Base Rate (which is a variable per annum rate, as of any date of determination, equal to the Bank’s Prime Rate), plus an Applicable Margin.  The Applicable Margin is determined pursuant to a Pricing Grid, which for loans subject to the Tranche Rate varies from 1.75% to 2.50% and for loans subject to the Base Rate varies from 0.75% to 1.50%. The Applicable Margin may change quarterly based on the Total Leverage Ratio at such time.  The Total Leverage Ratio is determined with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for an applicable quarterly period by dividing the aggregate principal amount of various forms of borrowed indebtedness as of the last day of a determination period by EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for such period.  Interest is paid in arrears, either quarterly or monthly depending on the Company’s interest rate election, with the principal due at maturity.

Under the terms of the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company will pay to the Bank an unused facility fee on the average daily unused balance of the Facility at a rate per annum equal to 0.50%, which fee is payable in arrears on dates when interest is due and payable. The Company will also pay to the Bank a letter of credit fee equal to the Applicable Margin for loans subject to the Tranche Rate multiplied by the maximum amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit.

The Fifth Third Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as events of default customary for facilities of this type. In connection with the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company paid the Bank a closing fee in the amount of $200,000 and other customary fees and reimbursements.  As of March 31, 2024, there was no debt outstanding under the Facility.

7.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock


Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors and have the right to one vote per share on all matters requiring shareholder approval. The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since the Company’s Board of Directors discontinued our quarterly cash dividend program in February 2015. The Company currently has no intention to pay cash dividends to holders of Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Restricted Stock

The Company currently has only one active stock incentive plan: the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “LTIP”).

14
LTIP

On March 26, 2020, the Board of Directors adopted the LTIP to provide an incentive to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to align their interests in the Company’s success with those of its shareholders through the grant of equity-based awards. On June 16, 2020, the shareholders of the Company approved the LTIP. The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other qualified committee appointed by the Board of Directors, which will, among other duties, have the full power and authority to take all actions and make all determinations required or provided for under the LTIP. Pursuant to the LTIP, the Company may grant options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options. Under the LTIP, employees may surrender shares as payment of applicable income tax withholding on the vested Restricted Stock. The LTIP has a duration of 10 years. On February 23, 2023, the Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, the amendment of the LTIP to increase the aggregate number of shares available under the LTIP from 2,000,000 shares to 4,000,000 shares. The amendment was approved and adopted by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 5, 2023.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, the Company completed a net share settlement for 315,611 and 297,380 restricted shares on behalf of certain employees that participate in the LTIP upon the vesting of the restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the LTIP.  The net share settlement was in connection with income taxes incurred on restricted shares that vested and were transferred to the employees during 2024 and/or 2023, creating taxable income for the employees.  At the employees’ request, the Company has paid these taxes on behalf of the employees in exchange for the employees returning an equivalent value of restricted shares to the Company.  These transactions resulted in a decrease of $3.1 million and $1.8 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively, to equity on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the cash payment of the taxes effectively was a repurchase of the restricted shares granted in previous years.

The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to Restricted Stock:

 
Shares
    
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
  
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at December 31, 2023
    
1,398,675
    
$
5.16
  
Granted
    
400,212
      
9.62
  
Vested
    
(759,731
)
    
6.40
  
                 
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at March 31, 2024
    
1,039,156
     $
7.62
  


The Restricted Stock expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023 was $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The unrecognized Restricted Stock expense as of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023 was $7.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively.  As of March 31, 2024, the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock had an aggregate intrinsic value of $14.4 million.

Share Repurchase Plan

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program of up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.  The repurchase program was authorized for 12 months. Pursuant to the program, purchases may be made, from time to time, in open-market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means as determined by the Company’s management and in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The timing of purchases and the number of shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, trading volume, corporate and regulatory requirements and market conditions. The Company retains the right to limit, terminate or extend the share repurchase program at any time without prior notice.

Subsequently, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.

15
The following table presents information about our repurchases of Common Stock, all of which were completed through open market purchases:


 
Three Months Ended
  

 
March 31,
  
(in thousands, except share data)
  
2024
    
2023
  
Total number of shares repurchased1
    
-
      
104,030
  
Total cost of shares repurchased
  
$
-
    
$
556
  


1 These shares were subsequently canceled and recorded as a reduction of Common Stock.

8.
INCOME TAXES

The benefit for income taxes was $0.1 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectfully.  The reduction was primarily due to lower discrete tax benefit in the current year.

9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

There are no material developments relating to previously disclosed legal proceedings. See the Company’s Form 10-K and previous Form 10-Qs “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding existing legal proceedings. Additionally, see “Regulatory Updates” for additional information concerning the status of Borrower Defense to Repayment Applications.


In the ordinary conduct of its business, the Company is subject to certain lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although the Company cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

10.
SEGMENTS

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. These segments are defined below:

Campus Operations – The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.


Transitional – The Transitional segment refers to businesses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught out.  As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment.  However, in the prior year the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.


We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

Summary financial information by reporting segment is as follows:


 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
  
   
Revenue
    
Operating Income (Loss)
  
   
2024
    
% of
Total
    
2023
    
% of
Total
    
2024
    
2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
86,352
      
98.9
%
  
$
12,324
    
$
10,109
  
Transitional
    
-
      
0.0
%
    
932
      
1.1
%
    
-
      
(197
)
Corporate
    
-
       0.0 %    
-
       0.0 %    
(12,782
)
    
(11,028
)
Total
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
87,284
      
100.0
%
  
$
(458
)
  
$
(1,116
)

16

 
Total Assets
  
   
March 31, 2024
    
December 31, 2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
249,738
    
$
234,940
  
Transitional
    
-
      
262
  
Corporate
    
105,425
      
110,047
  
Total
  
$
355,163
    
$
345,249
  

11.
FAIR VALUE

The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers:

Level 1:    Defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:    Defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

Level 3:    Defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The Company measures the fair value of money market funds and treasury bills using Level 1 inputs.  Pricing sources may include industry standard data providers, security master files from large financial institutions and other third-party sources used to determine a daily market value.

The following charts reflect the fair market value of cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

   
March 31, 2024
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  

   
December 31, 2023
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
9,037
    
$
9,037
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
9,037
  
Treasury bill
    
20,343
      
20,343
      
-
      
-
      
20,343
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
29,380
    
$
29,380
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
29,380
  

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accrued expenses and other short-term liabilities, approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.

17
12.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS


Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus



On January 30, 2024 the Company entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for the property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania.  This property is 90,000 square feet and was previously purchased by the Company on September 28, 2023 for approximately $10.2 million.  The sale transaction was for an aggregate sale price of approximately $11.0 million.   Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the Company and the purchaser have entered into a triple-net lease agreement pursuant to which the property is being leased back to the Company for a 20-year term.  The lease agreement includes a $2.5 million tenant improvement allowance.



The Company plans to invest approximately $15.0 million, net of the tenant improvement allowance, in the buildout of new classrooms and training areas to ensure a best-in-class campus that provides a positive experience for students, faculty, and industry partners.   Students training at the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will go on to launch new careers in the automotive, welding, HVAC and electrical industries throughout the greater Philadelphia area.  As of December 31, 2023, the new campus is classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.



The Company has served the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area at its current campus located at 9191 Torresdale Avenue for more than 60 years.  The new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus is expected to open in the second half of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing campus at 9191 Torresdale Avenue.  While the current campus can accommodate 250 students, the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will have the capability to handle more than double this capacity.  The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout at the new location is fully complete to ensure a seamless transition.   Additionally, the facility will have the extra capacity to accommodate several potential industry partners and future program expansions.



Property Sale Agreement – Nashville, Tennessee Campus



On September 24, 2021, Nashville Acquisition, L.L.C., a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate (the “Nashville Contract”) to sell the nearly 16-acre property located at 524 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, at which the Company operates its Nashville campus, to SLC Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Southern Land Company (“SLC”).



On June 8, 2023, the Company closed on the sale of its Nashville, Tennessee property to East Nashville Owner, LLC, an affiliate of SLC, for approximately $33.8 million pursuant to the Nashville Contract. The net proceeds from the Nashville sale, net of closing costs, are available for working capital, acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes.  In connection with the sale, the parties entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15 months plus options to extend the lease for up to three consecutive 30-day terms at $150,000 per extension term.  The carrying value of the campus is approximately $4.5 million and the estimated fair value of the rent for the 15-month rent-free period was approximately $2.3 million at the consummation of the lease.  As of March 31, 2024, approximately $0.8 million remains and is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

13.
STUDENT RECEIVABLES



Student receivables represent funds owed to us in exchange for the educational services provided to a student. Student receivables are reflected net of an allowance for credit losses at the end of the reporting period. Student receivables, net, are reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as components of both current and non-current assets.



Our students pay for their costs through a variety of funding sources, including federal loan and grant programs, institutional payment plans, Veterans Administration and other military funding and grants, private and institutional scholarships and cash payments. Cash receipts from government-related sources are typically received during the current academic term. Students who have not applied for any type of financial aid generally set up a payment plan with the institution and make payments on a monthly basis as per the terms of the payment plan. A student receivable balance is written off when deemed uncollectable, which is typically once a student is out of school and there has been no payment activity on the account for 150 days.  If, however, the student does remit a payment during this time period, the 150-day policy for write-off starts again until the students either (1) continues making payments or (2) the student does not make any additional payments and is then subsequently written off after 150 days.



Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly known as “CECL.” On the January 1, 2023 date of adoption, based on forecasts of macroeconomic conditions and exposures at that time, the aggregate impact to the Company resulted in an opening balance sheet adjustment increasing the allowance for credit losses related to the Company’s accounts receivables of approximately $10.8 million, a decrease in retained earnings of $7.9 million, after-tax and a deferred tax asset increase of $2.9 million.


18

Students enrolled in the Company’s programs are provided with a variety of funding resources, including financial aid, grants, scholarships and private loans.  After exhausting all fund options, if the student is still in need of additional financing, the Company may offer an institutional loan as a lender of last resort.  Institutional loan terms are pre-determined at enrollment and are not typically restructured.



Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses on student receivables that considers vintages of receivables to determine a loss rate.  In considering lifetime credit losses, if the expected life goes beyond the Company’s reasonable ability to forecast, the Company then reverts back to historical loss experience as an indicator of collections.  In determining the expected credit losses for the period, student receivables were disaggregated and pooled into two different categories to refine the calculation.  Other information considered included external factors outside the Company’s control, which included, but was not limited to, the effects of COVID-19.  Given that collection history during the pandemic was not considered to be a reliable indicator of a student’s repayment history, the Company adjusted the historical loss calculation by normalizing the financial data relating to that time period.  Our estimation methodology further considered a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, student status, changes in the current economic condition, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.


Student Receivables



The Company has student receivables that are due greater than 12 months from the date of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the amount of non-current student receivables under payment plans that is longer than 12 months in duration, net of allowance for credit losses, was $17.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively.



The following table presents the amortized cost basis of student receivables as of March 31, 2024 by year of origination.



   
Student
  
Year
  
Receivables (1)
  
2024
  
$
50,484
  
2023
    
35,742
  
2022
    
10,731
  
2021
    
5,989
  
2020
    
2,628
  
Prior
    
2,562
  
Total
  
$
108,136
  

 
(1)
Student receivables are presented on a gross basis from the individual students.  The total receivable amount above excludes federal subsidies reflected on the students account but not yet received from the government.  Also, it excludes all receivables from corporate partnerships, which are otherwise included under accounts receivable in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

19

The following table presents write-off amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2024 based on the students’ school departure year.



Year
  
Write-Off’s
  
2024
  
$
-
  
2023
    
7,854
  
2022
    
1,121
  
2021
    
433
  
2020
    
154
  
Prior
    
123
  
Total
  
$
9,685
  



The Company does not utilize or maintain data pertaining to student credit information.



Allowance for Credit Losses



We define student receivables as a portfolio segment under ASC Topic 326. Changes in our current and non-current allowance for credit losses related to our student receivable portfolio are calculated in accordance with the guidance effective January 1, 2023 under CECL for the three months ended March 31, 2024.


    Allowance for
  
    Credit Losses
  
Balance as of December 31, 2023
  
$
53,811
  
Provision for credit losses
    
12,213
  
Write-off’s
    
(9,685
)
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
56,339
  

 

Fair Value Measurements



The carrying amount reported in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the current portion of student receivable approximates fair value because of the nature of these financial instruments as they generally have short maturity periods. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the non-current portion of student receivables, since observable market data is not readily available, and no reasonable estimation methodology exists.

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Item 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

All references in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”) to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” refer to Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

The following discussion may contain forward-looking statements regarding the Company, our business, prospects, and our results of operations that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties posed by many factors and events that could cause our actual business, prospects, and results of operations to differ materially from those that may be anticipated by such forward-looking statements.  Such statements may be identified by the use of words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “assume,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “may,” “will,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” or similar words and include, without limitation, statements relating to future enrollment, revenues, revenues per student, earnings growth, operating expenses, capital expenditures, and effect of pandemics such as the COVID-19 pandemic and its ultimate effect on the Company’s business and results. These statements are based on the Company’s current expectations and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Additional factors that could cause or contribute to differences between our actual results and those anticipated include, but are not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of our Form 10-K and in our other filings with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.  We undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may subsequently arise.  Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Form 10-Q and in our other reports filed with the SEC that advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect our business.

21
As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional.  The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.  The Transitional segment refers to campuses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out.  As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment.  However, in the prior year, the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.

We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.  The interim financial statements and related notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and the discussions contained herein should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements and notes thereto included in our Form 10-K, which includes audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the last two fiscal years ended December 31, 2023.

General

Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 22 campuses in 13 states, offers programs in skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), automotive technology, healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics), and information technology.  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.

Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus

On January 30, 2024 the Company entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for the property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania.  This property is 90,000 square feet and was previously purchased by the Company on September 28, 2023 for approximately $10.2 million.  The sale transaction was for an aggregate sale price of approximately $11.0 million.   Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the Company and the purchaser have entered into a triple-net lease agreement pursuant to which the property is being leased back to the Company for a 20-year term.  The lease agreement includes a $2.5 million tenant improvement allowance.
 
The Company plans to invest approximately $15.0 million, net of the tenant improvement allowance, in the buildout of new classrooms and training areas to ensure a best-in-class campus that provides a positive experience for students, faculty, and industry partners.   Students training at the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will go on to launch new careers in the automotive, welding, HVAC and electrical industries throughout the greater Philadelphia area.  As of December 31, 2023, the new campus is classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
The Company has served the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area at its current campus located at 9191 Torresdale Avenue for more than 60 years.  The new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus is expected to open in the second half of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing campus at 9191 Torresdale Avenue.  While the current campus can accommodate 250 students, the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will have the capability to handle more than double this capacity.  The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout at the new location is fully complete to ensure a seamless transition.   Additionally, the facility will have the extra capacity to accommodate several potential industry partners and future program expansions.
 
Property Sale Agreement – Nashville, Tennessee Campus

On September 24, 2021, Nashville Acquisition, L.L.C., a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate (the “Nashville Contract”) to sell the nearly 16-acre property located at 524 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, at which the Company operates its Nashville campus, to SLC Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Southern Land Company (“SLC”).

22
On June 8, 2023, the Company closed on the sale of its Nashville, Tennessee property to East Nashville Owner, LLC, an affiliate of SLC, for approximately $33.8 million pursuant to the Nashville Contract. The net proceeds from the Nashville sale, net of closing costs, are available for working capital, acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes.  In connection with the sale, the parties entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15 months plus options to extend the lease for up to three consecutive 30-day terms at $150,000 per extension term.  The carrying value of the campus is approximately $4.5 million and the estimated fair value of the rent for the 15-month rent-free period was approximately $2.3 million at the consummation of the lease.  As of March 31, 2024, approximately $0.8 million remains and is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

For a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates, refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in our Form 10-K and Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Form 10-Q.

Allowance for Credit Losses

On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-13, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.  As a result of the adoption, the Company has revised the way in which it calculates reserves on outstanding student accounts receivable balances.  Details considered by management in the estimate include the following:
 
We extend credit to a portion of the students who are enrolled at our academic institutions for tuition and certain other educational costs. Based upon past experience and judgment, we establish an allowance for credit losses with respect to student receivables which we estimate will ultimately not be collectible. Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses for student receivables that considers vintages of receivables to determine a loss rate.  Our estimation methodology considers a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, changes in the current economic, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.
 
Management makes a series of assumptions to determine what is believed to be the appropriate level of allowance for credit losses. Management determines a reasonable and supportable forecast based on the expectation of future conditions over a supportable forecast period as described above, as well as qualitative adjustments based on current and future conditions that may not be fully captured in the historical modeling factors described above. All of these estimates are susceptible to significant change.

We monitor our collections and write-off experience to assess whether or not adjustments to our allowance percentage estimates are necessary. Changes in trends in any of the factors that we believe impact the collection of our student receivables, as noted above, or modifications to our collection practices, and other related policies may impact our estimate of our allowance for credit losses and our results from operations.

Because a substantial portion of our revenue is derived from Title IV Programs, any legislative or regulatory action that significantly reduces the funding available under Title IV Programs, or the ability of our students or institutions to participate in Title IV Programs, would likely have a material impact on the realizability of our receivables.

We do not believe that there is any direct correlation between tuition increases, the credit we extend to students and our financing commitments.  The extended financing plans we offer to our students are made on a student-by-student basis and are predominantly a function of the specific student’s financial condition.   We only extend credit to the extent there is a financing gap between the tuition and fees charged for the program and the amount of grants, loans and parental loans each student receives.  Each student’s funding requirements are unique.  Factors that determine the amount of aid available to a student include whether they are dependent or independent students, Pell Grants awarded, federal Direct Loans awarded, PLUS loans awarded to parents and the student’s personal resources and family contributions. As a result, it is extremely difficult to predict the number of students that will need us to extend credit to them.

Because a substantial portion of our revenues is derived from Title IV Programs, any legislative or regulatory action that significantly reduces the funding available under Title IV Programs or the ability of our students or schools to participate in Title IV Programs could have a material effect on the realizability of our receivables.

23
Effect of Inflation

Inflation has not had a material effect on our operations, except for some inflationary pressures on certain instructional expenses, including consumables, and in instances where potential students have not wanted to incur additional debt or increased travel expense.

Results of Continuing Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

The following table sets forth selected Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations data as a percentage of revenues for each of the periods indicated:

   
Three Months Ended
  
   
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Revenue
    
100.0
%
    
100.0
%
Costs and expenses:
                
Educational services and facilities
    
41.6
%
    
43.6
%
Selling, general and administrative
    
58.5
%
    
57.6
%
Loss on sale of asset
    
0.3
%
    
0.0
%
Total costs and expenses
    
100.4
%
    
101.3
%
Operating loss
    
-0.4
%
    
-1.3
%
Interest income, net
    
0.1
%
    
0.5
%
Loss from operations before income taxes
    
-0.3
%
    
-0.8
%
Benefit for income taxes
    
-0.1
%
    
-0.6
%
Net loss
    
-0.2
%
    
-0.1
%

Three Months Ended March 31, 2024 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Consolidated Results of Operations

Revenue.  Revenue increased by $16.1 million, or 18.4%, to $103.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $87.3 million in the prior year comparable period.  Included in the prior year is $0.9 million of revenue related to the teach-out of the Somerville, Massachusetts campus, which was completed in the prior year.   Excluding this campus for comparability, revenue would have increased by $17.0 million, or 19.7%.  The primary reasons for the increase were an 11.9% rise in average student population due to starting the year with approximately 9.0% or 1,100 more students, coupled with a 15.3% growth in student starts.
For a general discussion of trends in our student enrollment, see “Seasonality and Outlook” below.

Educational services and facilities expense.  Our educational services and facilities expense increased $4.9 million, or 12.9% to $43.0 million from $38.1 million in the prior year comparable period.  Included in the increase over prior year are approximately $2.9 million of one-time expenses primarily relating to new campuses and campus relocation costs, for the new Houston, Texas property in addition to the relocations of our Nashville, Tennessee and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area properties.  Remaining expense increases were due to higher instructional salaries resulting from additional staffing levels driven by student population growth in combination with  merit salary increases and additional costs attributed to book and tool expense driven by an increased student population.

Educational services and facilities expense, as a percentage of revenue, decreased to 41.6% from 43.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Selling, general and administrative expense.  Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $10.2 million, or 20.3% to $60.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $50.3 million in the prior year comparable period.  The majority of the   increase was due to higher administrative expense and marketing investments, with additional increases in student services resulting from a larger student population.

Administrative costs increased $7.4 million, due to several factors including an increase in salary expense driven in part by merit increases and population growth, increased medical claims, and additional bad debt expense largely driven by revenue growth.

24
Marketing investments increased $1.6 million, helping drive student starts, up 15.3% quarter-over-quarter.  Additional investments during the current quarter included video production for TV and digital channels, the start-up of investment in awareness building and lead generation in connection with the launch of the East Point, Georgia campus, which commenced classes in March of this year, and the continued increase in spending for paid search and paid social media, which generate higher converting leads.

Selling, general and administrative expense, as a percentage of revenue, increased to 58.5% from 57.6% for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

Loss on sale of asset. Loss on sale of asset was $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, driven by the sale of our Levittown, Pennsylvania property during the current quarter.

Net interest income.  Net interest income was $0.1 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.  During the current quarter, the Company generated $0.7 million of investment income, compared to $0.5 million in the prior year comparable period through investments of approximately $54.0 million of cash reserves into two money market accounts.  Returns in the current quarter were partially offset by increased interest expense resulting from the addition of the Company’s two finance leases.

Income taxes.  The benefit for income taxes was $0.1 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectfully.  The reduction was primarily due to a lower discrete tax benefit in the current year.

Segment Results of Operations

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional.  These segments are defined below:

Campus Operations – The Campus Operations segment includes all campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.

Transitional – The Transitional segment refers to businesses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out.  As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment.  However, in the prior year the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.

We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

25
The following table presents results for our two reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

   
Three Months Ended March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
    
% Change
  
Revenue:
                  
Campus Operations
  
$
103,366
    
$
86,352
      
19.7
%
Transitional
    
-
      
932
      
-100.0
%
Total
  
$
103,366
    
$
87,284
      
18.4
%
                         
Operating Income (loss):
                        
Campus Operations
  
$
12,324
    
$
10,109
      
21.9
%
Transitional
    
-
      
(197
)
    
-100.0
%
Corporate
    
(12,782
)
    
(11,028
)
    
-15.9
%
Total
  
$
(458
)
  
$
(1,116
)
    
-59.0
%
                         
Starts:
                        
Campus Operations
    
3,967
      
3,440
      
15.3
%
Total
    
3,967
      
3,440
      
15.3
%
                         
Average Population:
                        
Campus Operations
    
13,678
      
12,225
      
11.9
%
Transitional
    
-
      
162
      
-100.0
%
Total
    
13,678
      
12,387
      
10.4
%
                         
End of Period Population:
                        
Campus Operations
    
13,801
      
12,413
      
11.2
%
Transitional
    
-
      
131
      
-100.0
%
Total
    
13,801
      
12,544
      
10.0
%

Campus Operations
 
Operating income increased 21.9%, or $2.2 million to $12.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $10.1 million in the prior year comparable period.  The change quarter-over-quarter was mainly driven by the following factors:


 •
Revenue increased $17.0 million, or 19.7% to $103.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $86.4 million in the prior year comparable period.  The primary reasons for this increase were an 11.9% rise in average student population due to starting the year with approximately 9.0% or 1,100 more students, coupled with a 15.3% growth in student starts.

•
Our educational services and facilities expense increased $5.5 million, or 14.8% to $43.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 from $37.5 million in the prior year comparable period.  Included in the increase over prior year are approximately $2.9 million of one-time expenses primarily relating to new campuses and campus relocation costs, for the new Houston, Texas property in addition to the relocations of our Nashville, Tennessee and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area properties.  Remaining expense increases were due to higher instructional salaries resulting from additional staffing levels driven by student population growth in combination with merit salary increases, with additional costs attributed to book and tool expense also driven by an increased student population.

•
Our selling, general and administrative expense increased $9.2 million, or 23.9% to $48.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $38.8 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in expense was due to higher administrative expense and marketing investments, with additional increases in student services resulting from a larger student population, all of which are discussed above in the Consolidated Results of Operations.
 
26
Transitional
 
On November 3, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a plan to close the Somerville, Massachusetts campus. The owner of the Somerville property exercised the option to terminate the lease on December 8, 2023 and the Company determined not to pursue relocating the campus in this geographic region.  The campus was fully taught out as of December 2023 and did not generate any expense for the current quarter.
 

 •
Revenue decreased $0.9 million, or 100.0% to zero for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $0.9 million in the prior year comparable period.

•
Total operating expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 100.0% to zero for the three months ended March 31, 2024, from $1.1 million in the prior year comparable period.
 
The change in operating performance is the result of closing the campus and no longer enrolling new students.

Corporate and Other
This category includes unallocated expenses incurred on behalf of the entire Company.  Corporate and other expense were $12.8 million and $11.0 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.  Increased costs were due primarily to a loss on the sale of our Levittown, Pennsylvania property, additional salaries and benefits expense, stock-based compensation expense and performance-based incentives driven in part by improved financial performance.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Our primary capital requirements are for the maintenance and expansion of our facilities and the development of new programs. Our principal sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operating activities and borrowings under our Credit Facility.  The following chart summarizes the principal elements of our cash flow for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023:

   
Three Months Ended
  
   
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Net cash used in operating activities
  
$
(14,934
)
  
$
(214
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
  
$
8,034
    
$
(3,249
)
Net cash used in financing activities
  
$
(3,594
)
  
$
(2,335
)

As of March 31, 2024, the Company had $69.8 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, compared to $80.3 million in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash as of December 31, 2023.  The change in cash position from year-end was driven in part by the payment of incentive compensation during the first quarter, investments in capital expenditures relating to our East Point,

Georgia campus in addition to new programs and program expansions and the seasonality of our business, which yields greater returns in the second half of the year.  In addition, the prior year cash position benefited from $33.3 million in proceeds resulting from the sale of our Nashville, Tennessee property.

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program of up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.  The share repurchase program was authorized for 12 months. Subsequently, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.  As of March 31, 2024, the Company has not repurchased any additional shares and has approximately $29.7 million remaining for repurchase.

27
Our primary source of cash is tuition collected from our students. The majority of students enrolled at our schools rely on funds received under various government-sponsored student financial aid programs to pay a substantial portion of their tuition and other education-related expenses. The most significant source of student financing is Title IV Programs, which represented approximately 81% of our cash receipts relating to revenues in 2023. Pursuant to applicable regulations, students must apply for a new loan for each academic period. Federal regulations dictate the timing of disbursements of funds under Title IV Programs and loan funds are generally provided by lenders in two disbursements for each academic year. The first disbursement is usually received approximately 31 days after the start of a student’s academic year and the second disbursement is typically received at the beginning of the sixteenth week from the start of the student’s academic year. Certain types of grants and other funding are not subject to a 31-day delay.  In certain instances, if a student withdraws from a program prior to a specified date, any paid but unearned tuition or prorated Title IV Program financial aid is refunded according to federal, state and accrediting agency standards.

As a result of the significant amount of Title IV Program funds received by our students, we are highly dependent on these funds to operate our business. Any reduction in the level of Title IV Program funds that our students are eligible to receive for tuition payment to us or any restriction on our eligibility to receive Title IV Program funds would have a significant impact on our operations and our financial condition.  For more information, See Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Industry” of our Form 10-K.

Operating Activities

Operating cash flow results primarily from cash received from our students, offset by changes in working capital demands.  Working capital can vary at any point in time based on several factors including seasonality, timing of cash receipts and payments and vendor payment terms.

Net cash used in operating activities was $14.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to $0.2 million in the prior year comparable period.  The main reasons for the change in cash position included a $7.9 million reduction in accounts payable during the three months ended March 31, 2024 resulting from the timing of cash disbursements and a $4.9 million reduction in accrued expenses resulting from the payment of incentive-based compensation during the current quarter.

Investing Activities

Net cash provided by investing activities was $8.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $3.2 million in the prior year comparable period.  The increase in cash position was driven by the sale of our Levittown, Pennsylvania property, partially offset by investments in capital expenditures.

We currently lease all of our campuses.

Capital expenditures were approximately 11.0% of revenues in 2023 and are expected to approximate 18.0% of revenues in 2024.  The significant increase in planned capital expenditures over the prior year will be driven by several factors that include, but are not limited to, the buildout of our new East Point, Georgia campus and the new Nashville, Tennessee campus, additional space, the planned introduction of three new programs at the Lincoln, Rhode Island campus, and the anticipated introduction of new programs at certain other campuses.  We expect to fund future capital expenditures with cash generated from operating activities and cash on hand.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $3.6 million and $2.3 million, respectively.  The decrease in cash used was driven by the tax impact of vested stock grants for the prior year.

Credit Facility

On February 16, 2024, the Company entered into a secured credit agreement (the “Fifth Third Credit Agreement”) with Fifth Third Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), pursuant to which the Company, as borrower, has obtained a revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $40.0 million including a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20.0 million accordion feature (the “Facility”), the proceeds of which are to be used for working capital, general corporate and certain other permitted purposes. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and is secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Bank on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. The term of the Facility is 36 months, maturing on February 16, 2027.
 
28
Each advance under the Facility will bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date when made at an interest rate determined at the election of the Company at either the Tranche Rate (which is the forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) for one or three months), or the Base Rate (which is a variable per annum rate, as of any date of determination, equal to the Bank’s Prime Rate), plus an Applicable Margin.  The Applicable Margin is determined pursuant to a Pricing Grid, which for loans subject to the Tranche Rate varies from 1.75% to 2.50% and for loans subject to the Base Rate varies from 0.75% to 1.50%. The Applicable Margin may change quarterly based on the Total Leverage Ratio at such time.  The Total Leverage Ratio is determined with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for an applicable quarterly period by dividing the aggregate principal amount of various forms of borrowed indebtedness as of the last day of a determination period by EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for such period.  Interest is paid in arrears, either quarterly or monthly depending on the Company’s interest rate election, with the principal due at maturity.

Under the terms of the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company will pay to the Bank an unused facility fee on the average daily unused balance of the Facility at a rate per annum equal to 0.50%, which fee is payable in arrears on dates when interest is due and payable. The Company will also pay to the Bank a letter of credit fee equal to the Applicable Margin for loans subject to the Tranche Rate multiplied by the maximum amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit.
 
The Fifth Third Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as events of default customary for facilities of this type. In connection with the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company paid the Bank a closing fee in the amount of $200,000 and other customary fees and reimbursements. As of March 31, 2024, there was no debt outstanding under the Facility.
 
Contractual Obligations

Current portion of Long-Term Debt, Long-Term Debt and Lease Commitments.  As of March 31, 2024, we had no debt outstanding.  We lease offices, educational facilities and various items of equipment for varying periods through the year 2045 at basic annual rental rates (excluding taxes, insurance, and other expenses under certain leases).

As of March 31, 2024, we had outstanding loan principal commitments to our active students of $37.1 million.  These are institutional loans and no cash is advanced to students.  The full loan amount is not guaranteed unless the student completes the program. The institutional loans are considered commitments because the students are required to fund their education using these funds and they are not reported on our financial statements.

Regulatory Updates

Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.   The DOE’s current Borrower Defense to Repayment regulations establish processes for borrowers to receive from the DOE a discharge of the obligation to repay certain Title IV Program loans based on certain acts or omissions by the institution or a covered party. The current regulations also establish processes under which the DOE may seek recovery from the institution of the amount of discharged loans.  See 10-K “Regulatory Environment – Borrower Defense to Repayment Regulations.”

In April 2021, the Company received communication from the DOE indicating that the DOE was in receipt of a number of borrower defense applications containing allegations concerning our schools and requiring that the DOE undertake a fact-finding process pursuant to DOE regulations. Among other things, the communication outlines a process by which the DOE would provide to us the applications and allow us the opportunity to submit responses to them. Further, the communication outlines certain information requests, relating to the period between 2007 and 2013, in connection with the DOE’s preliminary review of the borrower defense applications. Based upon publicly available information, it appears that the DOE has undertaken similar reviews of other educational institutions which have also been the subject of various borrower defense applications. We have received the borrower defense application claims and have completed the process of thoroughly reviewing and responding to each borrower defense application as well as providing information in response to the DOE’s requests.

In August 2022, the Company received communication from the DOE regarding a single borrower defense application submitted on behalf of a group of students who were enrolled in a single educational program at two of our schools in Massachusetts between 2010 and 2013.  The communication, which did not state who submitted the application or when it was submitted, asked us to submit a response within 60 calendar days.  We timely responded to the DOE’s letter, notwithstanding the absence of a response to our request for additional information about the student claims.  We are waiting for the DOE’s reply to our response and to our request for information about the student claims. 
 
As previously disclosed, on November 16, 2022, a California federal court in Sweet v. Cardona, No. 3:19-cv-3674 (N.D. Cal.), approved a settlement agreement entered into by the DOE in a class action lawsuit that challenges the manner in which the DOE has dealt with Borrow Defense to Repayment applications over several years. See Part I, Item 3, of our Form 10-K “Legal Proceedings.” The settlement provides automatic debt forgiveness and refunds or a streamlined review process for former students of over 150 schools, including our institutions, who had submitted Borrower Defense to Repayment applications on or before June 22, 2022. Based upon publicly available information, approximately 264,000 Borrower Defense to Repayment applications associated with all schools were eligible for automatic relief or a streamlined review process as of June 22, 2022.  The settlement also provides a 36-month deadline for the DOE to decide Borrower Defense to Repayment applications submitted between June 23, 2022 and November 16, 2022, the date of the court’s final approval of the settlement, under the DOE’s 2016 regulatory standards.  If the DOE does not decide those applications within 36 months, the applicants will receive automatic debt forgiveness and refunds without considering the merits of the claims.  As a result of publicity about the opportunity afforded by the settlement, approximately 206,000 borrowers submitted 250,000 new applications prior to November 16, 2022.  The process set out in the settlement agreement does not follow the claim adjudication procedures set out in applicable regulations.

29
In February 2024, the Company received communication from the DOE indicating that the DOE was in receipt of approximately 3,000 new borrower defense applications containing allegations concerning our schools.  The communication indicated that these applications were filed between June 23, 2022, and November 15, 2022 and, therefore, subject to the settlement agreement. The DOE’s receipt of borrower defense applications for this time period is not unique to the Company as other proprietary educational institutions have also received notification of applications in many cases numbering in the thousands.

It remains unclear what loan discharge applications the DOE may grant in the future and whether they will assert repayment claims against us regardless of the date the student loan was disbursed and the corresponding discharge standards and processes.  As a consequence, we are not able to predict the outcome of the DOE’s review, if any, of these applications at this time. If the DOE disagrees with our legal and factual grounds for contesting the applications or if the DOE fails to adjudicate the claims within 36 months, the DOE could discharge the loans associated with the applications and award refunds. In turn, the DOE could attempt to impose liabilities on the Company based on the discharge of the loans and refunds, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.  The DOE also could attempt to apply the new regulations to the pending applications, which could increase the likelihood of the DOE granting the application because the proposed regulations are more favorable to borrowers (although the new regulations are subject to a federal injunction).  If the DOE attempts to impose liabilities based on the discharge of these loans and refunds, we would consider our options for challenging the legal and factual bases for such actions both in administrative proceedings and in federal court. 

Seasonality

Our revenue and operating results normally fluctuate as a result of seasonal variations in our business, principally due to changes in total student population. Student population varies due to new student enrollments, graduations and student attrition. Historically, our schools have had lower student populations in our first and second quarters and we have experienced larger class starts in the third quarter and higher student attrition in the first half of the year. The growth that we generally experience in the second half of the year is largely dependent on a successful high school recruiting season. We recruit high school students several months ahead of their scheduled start dates and, as a consequence, while we have visibility on the number of students who have expressed interest in attending our schools, we cannot predict with certainty the actual number of new student enrollments in any given year and the related impact on revenue. Our expenses, however, typically do not vary significantly over the course of the year with changes in our student population and revenue.

Item 3.
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are a smaller reporting company as defined by Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act and are not required to provide the information otherwise required by this item.

Item 4.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

(a)   Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  Our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, after evaluating the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Securities Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e)) as of the end of the quarterly period covered by this Form 10-Q, have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are adequate and effective to reasonably ensure that material information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act
is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  There were no changes made during our most recently completed fiscal quarter in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, except for new internal controls related to ASC 326 and accounts payable payment processing that have been implemented.

30
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material developments relating to previously disclosed legal proceedings.  See the Company’s Form 10-K and previous Form 10-Qs “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding existing legal proceedings.  Additionally, see “Regulatory Updates” for additional information concerning the status of Borrower Defense to Repayment applications.

In the ordinary conduct of its business, the Company is subject to certain lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although the Company cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 1A.
RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this Form 10-Q, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in Part I, Item 1A of our Form 10-K and those contained in our previously filed Form 10-Qs, which could affect our business, financial condition, or operating results. The risks we describe in our periodic reports are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, or operating results.  For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Company is not aware of any specific new and additional risk factors not previously disclosed.

Item 2.
UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

  (a)
None.
  (b)
None.
  (c) On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that the Board of Directors had approved a share repurchase program for 12 months authorizing purchases of up to $30.0 million.  Subsequently, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.

The following table presents the number and average price of shares purchased during the three months ended March 31, 2024.  The remaining authorized amount for share repurchases under the program as of March 31, 2024 was approximately $29.7 million.

Period
  
Total Number of Shares
Purchased
    
Average Price
Paid per Share
    
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publically
Announced Plan
    
Maximum Dollar
Value of Shares
Remaining to be
Purchased Under
  the Plan
  
January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024
    
-
    
$
-
      
-
    
$
29,663,667
  
February 1, 2024 to February 29, 2024
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
-
  
March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024
    
-
      
-
      
-
      
-
  
Total
    
-
      
-
      
-
          

For more information on the share repurchase plan, see Part I, Item 1. “Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements”, Note 7 – Stockholders Equity.

31
Item 3.
DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES


(a)
None.

(b)
None

Item 4.
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES


None.

Item 5.
OTHER INFORMATION


(a)
None.

(b)
None.

(c)
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) adopted, terminated or modified a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” (as such terms are defined in Item 408 of Regulation S-K).

32
Item 6.
EXHIBITS

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
   
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005.
   
3.2
Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020).
   
3.3
Bylaws of the Company as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 30, 2020).

 
10.1
Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 16, 2024).


10.2
Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2024 among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries and Fifth Third Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 23, 2024).
   
31.1*
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2*
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32**
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101*
The following financial statements from the Company’s 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail.
   
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.  This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

33
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 
LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORPORATION
     
Date: May 6, 2024
By:
/s/ Brian Meyers
  
 
Brian Meyers
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

34
Exhibit Index

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (Registration No. 333-123644) filed June 7, 2005.
   
Certificate of Amendment, dated November 14, 2019, to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed October 6, 2020).
   
Bylaws of the Company as amended on March 8, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed April 30, 2020).


Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed February 16, 2024).


Credit Agreement dated as of February 16, 2024 among Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries and Fifth Third Bank, National Association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 23, 2024).
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
  
Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101*
The following financial statements from the Company’s 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024, formatted in Inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language (“iXBRL”): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (v) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text and in detail.
   
104
Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

*
Filed herewith.
**
Furnished herewith.  This exhibit will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such exhibit shall not be deemed incorporated into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


35
EXHIBIT 31.1
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Scott Shaw, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation;
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b)        Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)        Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)        Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;
 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
(b)        Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: May 6, 2024
  
   
/s/ Scott Shaw
  
Scott Shaw
  
Chief Executive Officer
  


EXHIBIT 31.2
 
CERTIFICATION
 
I, Brian Meyers, certify that:
 
1.
I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation;
 
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
 
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
 
(a)        Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
 
(b)        Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)        Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
 
(d)        Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting;
 
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
(a)        All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
 
(b)        Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: May 6, 2024
  
   
/s/ Brian Meyers
  
Brian Meyers
  
Chief Financial Officer
  

 
EXHIBIT 32

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350 as adopted by
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
Each of the undersigned, Scott Shaw, Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Educational Services Corporation (the “Company”), and Brian Meyers, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has executed this certification in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the “Report”).
 
           Each of the undersigned hereby certifies that, to his respective knowledge:
 

 1.
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 

 2.
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
Date: May 6, 2024
  
   
/s/ Scott Shaw
  
Scott Shaw
  
Chief Executive Officer
  

/s/ Brian Meyers
  
Brian Meyers
  
Chief Financial Officer
  


v3.24.1.u1
Document and Entity Information - shares
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
May 06, 2024
Cover [Abstract]    
Document Type 10-Q  
Amendment Flag false  
Document Quarterly Report true  
Document Period End Date Mar. 31, 2024  
Current Fiscal Year End Date --12-31  
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2024  
Document Fiscal Period Focus Q1  
Document Transition Report false  
Entity File Number 000-51371  
Entity Registrant Name LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP  
Entity Central Index Key 0001286613  
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code NJ  
Entity Tax Identification Number 57-1150621  
Entity Address, Address Line One 14 Sylvan Way, Suite A  
Entity Address, City or Town Parsippany  
Entity Address, State or Province NJ  
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 07054  
City Area Code 973  
Local Phone Number 736-9340  
Title of 12(b) Security Common Stock, no par value per share  
Trading Symbol LINC  
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ  
Entity Current Reporting Status Yes  
Entity Interactive Data Current Yes  
Entity Filer Category Accelerated Filer  
Entity Small Business true  
Entity Emerging Growth Company false  
Entity Shell Company false  
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding   31,443,711
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
CURRENT ASSETS:    
Cash and cash equivalents $ 68,554 $ 75,992
Restricted cash 1,221 4,277
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $37,128 and $34,441 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 40,484 35,692
Inventories 2,419 2,948
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,071 5,556
Assets held for sale 0 10,198
Total current assets 118,749 134,663
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - At cost, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $141,696 and $140,161 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 52,005 50,857
OTHER ASSETS:    
Noncurrent receivables, less allowance for credit losses of $19,211 and $19,370 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively 17,360 17,504
Deferred finance charges 420 0
Deferred income taxes, net 22,796 23,217
Operating lease right-of-use assets 102,797 89,923
Finance lease right-of-use assets 27,998 15,797
Goodwill 10,742 10,742
Other assets, net 1,443 1,787
Pension plan assets, net 853 759
Total other assets 184,409 159,729
TOTAL ASSETS 355,163 345,249
CURRENT LIABILITIES:    
Unearned tuition 22,265 26,906
Accounts payable 14,282 18,152
Accrued expenses 9,206 13,713
Income taxes payable 2,287 2,832
Current portion of operating lease liabilities 11,842 11,737
Current portion of finance lease liabilities 0 70
Total current liabilities 59,882 73,410
NONCURRENT LIABILITIES:    
Long-term portion of operating lease liabilities 101,927 88,853
Long-term portion of finance lease liabilities 28,809 16,126
Other long-term liabilities 52 56
Total liabilities 190,670 178,445
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:    
Common stock, no par value - authorized 100,000,000 shares at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, issued and outstanding 31,443,711 shares at March 31, 2024 and issued and outstanding 31,443,711 shares at March 31, 2024 and 31,359,110 shares at December 31, 2023. 48,181 48,181
Additional paid-in capital 47,283 49,380
Retained earnings 69,065 69,279
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (36) (36)
Total stockholders' equity 164,493 166,804
TOTAL LIABILITIES, SERIES A CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 355,163 $ 345,249
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
CURRENT ASSETS:    
Accounts receivable, allowance for credit losses $ 37,128 $ 34,441
PROPERTY, EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES - accumulated depreciation and amortization 141,696 140,161
OTHER ASSETS:    
Noncurrent receivables, allowance for credit losses $ 19,211 $ 19,370
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:    
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) $ 0 $ 0
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) 100,000,000 100,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares) 31,443,711 31,359,110
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) 31,443,711 31,359,110
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract]    
REVENUE $ 103,366 $ 87,284
COSTS AND EXPENSES:    
Educational services and facilities 43,023 38,093
Selling, general and administrative 60,492 50,307
Loss on sale of asset 309 0
Total costs & expenses 103,824 88,400
OPERATING LOSS (458) (1,116)
OTHER:    
Interest income 698 467
Interest expense (567) (25)
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (327) (674)
BENEFIT FOR INCOME TAXES (113) (565)
NET LOSS $ (214) $ (109)
Basic    
Net loss per common share (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ 0
Diluted    
Net loss per common share (in dollars per share) $ (0.01) $ 0
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:    
Basic (in shares) 30,301,475 30,038,558
Diluted (in shares) 30,301,475 30,038,558
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS [Abstract]    
Net loss $ (214) $ (109)
Other comprehensive loss    
Employee pension plan adjustments, net of taxes 0 (48)
Comprehensive loss $ (214) $ (157)
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Parenthetical) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
Other comprehensive loss    
Employee pension plan adjustments, taxes $ 0 $ 0
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Common Stock [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Net Cumulative Effect from Adoption [Member]
 [1]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Net Cumulative Effect from Adoption [Member]
 [1]
Retained Earnings [Member]
Retained Earnings [Member]
Net Cumulative Effect from Adoption [Member]
 [1]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Net Cumulative Effect from Adoption [Member]
 [1]
Total
Net Cumulative Effect from Adoption [Member]
 [1]
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2022 $ 49,072   $ 45,540   $ 51,225   $ (960)   $ 144,877  
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2022 31,147,925                  
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]                    
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible Enumeration]                 Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]  
Net loss $ 0   0   (109)   0   $ (109)  
Employee pension plan adjustments 0   0   0   (48)   (48)  
Stock-based compensation expense                    
Restricted stock $ 0   812   0   0   812  
Restricted stock (in shares) 652,042                  
Share repurchase $ (556)   0   0   0   (556)  
Share repurchase (in shares) (104,030)                  
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation $ 0   (1,779)   0   0   (1,779)  
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation (in shares) (297,380)                  
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2023 $ 48,516 $ 0 44,573 $ 0 43,173 $ (7,943) (1,008) $ 0 135,254 $ (7,943)
BALANCE (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2023 31,398,557 0                
BALANCE at Dec. 31, 2023 $ 48,181   49,380   69,279   (36)   166,804  
BALANCE (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2023 31,359,110                  
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]                    
Net loss $ 0   0   (214)   0   (214)  
Stock-based compensation expense                    
Restricted stock $ 0   1,059   0   0   1,059  
Restricted stock (in shares) 400,212                  
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation $ 0   (3,156)   0   0   (3,156)  
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation (in shares) (315,611)                  
BALANCE at Mar. 31, 2024 $ 48,181   $ 47,283   $ 69,065   $ (36)   $ 164,493  
BALANCE (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2024 31,443,711                  
[1] Net cumulative adjustment to equity based on the adoption of Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-13 Financial Instruments-Credit Losses. See Note 13 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
v3.24.1.u1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:    
Net loss $ (214) $ (109)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization 2,599 1,255
Finance lease amortization 369 0
Amortization of deferred finance charges 18 0
Deferred income taxes 421 0
Loss on sale of assets 309 0
Fixed asset donations (98) (62)
Provision for credit losses 12,213 8,233
Stock-based compensation expense 1,059 812
(Increase) decrease in assets:    
Accounts receivable (16,860) (8,663)
Inventories 529 (18)
Prepaid income taxes and income taxes payable (545) (508)
Prepaid expenses and current assets (582) (1,636)
Other assets, net 967 924
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:    
Accounts payable (5,561) 2,387
Accrued expenses (4,511) 353
Unearned tuition (4,641) (3,175)
Other liabilities (406) (7)
Total adjustments (14,720) (105)
Net cash used in operating activities (14,934) (214)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:    
Capital expenditures (1,684) (3,249)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 9,718 0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 8,034 (3,249)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Payment of deferred finance fees (438) 0
Share repurchase 0 (556)
Net share settlement for equity-based compensation (3,156) (1,779)
Net cash used in financing activities (3,594) (2,335)
NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH (10,494) (5,798)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - Beginning of period 80,269 50,287
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - End of period 69,775 44,489
Cash paid for:    
Interest 34 94
Income taxes 10 0
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:    
Liabilities accrued for or noncash additions of fixed assets $ 2,085 $ 713
v3.24.1.u1
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]  
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
1.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business Activities— Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 22 campuses in 13 states, offers programs in skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), automotive technology, healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics), and information technology.  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.
Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations.  These financial statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2023 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“Form 10-K”), reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods.  The results of operations for the three months ending March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance. The Transitional segment refers to campuses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment. However, in the prior year, the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.

We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions, including those used to determine the incremental borrowing rate to calculate lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease term to calculate lease cost, revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, useful lives of fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements – In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require that public business entities on an annual basis 1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, and 2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendments require disclosure about income taxes paid by federal, state and foreign taxes, and by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid is equal or greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid. The amendment also requires entities to disclose income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense disaggregated between domestic and foreign and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state and foreign. For all public business entities, ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024; early adoption is permitted.  We do not expect this ASU will have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income Taxes— The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.
In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable.  A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and/or tax returns.  Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Position or Results of Operations. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not record any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions, as we do not have any uncertain tax positions.
v3.24.1.u1
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE [Abstract]  
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
2.
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) are determined in accordance with ASC Topic 260, Earnings per Share, which specifies the computation, presentation and disclosure requirements for EPS. Basic EPS excludes all dilutive Common Stock equivalents. It is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS, as calculated using the treasury stock method, reflects the potential dilution that would occur if our dilutive outstanding stock options and stock awards were issued.

The weighted average number of common shares used to compute basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:

  Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  

 
2024
    
2023
  
Basic shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    
-
      
-
  
Diluted shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, options to acquire 169,288 shares and 231,124 shares were excluded from the above table because the Company reported a net loss for each quarter and therefore their impact on reported earnings per share would have been antidilutive.
v3.24.1.u1
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
REVENUE RECOGNITION [Abstract]  
REVENUE RECOGNITION
3.
REVENUE RECOGNITION

Substantially all of our revenues are considered to be revenues from our contracts with students.  The related accounts receivable balances are recorded on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as student accounts receivable.  We do not have significant revenue recognized from performance obligations that were satisfied in prior periods, and we do not have any transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations other than in our unearned tuition.  We record revenue for students who withdraw from our schools only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur.  Unearned tuition represents contract liabilities primarily related to our tuition revenue. We have elected not to provide disclosure about transaction prices allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations if original contract durations are less than one year, or if we have the right to consideration from a student in an amount that corresponds directly with the value provided to the student for performance obligations completed to date in accordance with ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). We have assessed the costs incurred to obtain a contract with a student and determined them to be immaterial.
Unearned tuition in the amount of $22.3 million and $26.9 million is recorded as current liabilities in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. The change in this contract liability balance during the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 is the result of payments received in advance of satisfying performance obligations, offset by revenue recognized during that period. Revenue recognized for the three-month period ended March 31, 2024 that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the year was $21.6 million.

The following table depicts the timing of revenue recognition:

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
5,747
    
$
-
    
$
5,747
  
Services transferred over time
    
97,619
      
-
      
97,619
  
Total revenues
  
$
103,366
    
$
-
    
$
103,366
  


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
4,699
    
$
9
    
$
4,708
  
Services transferred over time
    
81,653
      
923
      
82,576
  
Total revenues
  
$
86,352
    
$
932
    
$
87,284
  
v3.24.1.u1
LEASES
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
LEASES [Abstract]  
LEASES
4.
LEASES

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception. The Company considers any contract where there is an identified asset as to which the Company has the right to control its use in determining whether the contract contains a lease.  An operating lease ROU asset represents the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and liabilities are to be recognized at the commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As all of the Company’s operating leases do not provide an implicit rate, the Company uses an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available on the commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. We estimate the incremental borrowing rate based on a yield curve analysis, utilizing the interest rate derived from the fair value analysis of our credit facility and adjusting it for factors that appropriately reflect the profile of secured borrowing over the expected term of the lease. The operating lease ROU assets include any lease payments made prior to the rent commencement date and exclude lease incentives. Our leases have remaining lease terms of one year to 21 years. Lease terms may include options to extend the lease term used in determining the lease obligation when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.  Lease expense for lease payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term for operating leases.

On October 31, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 100,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus in Houston, Texas.  The lease term commenced on January 2, 2024, with an initial lease term of 21 years and 6 months. The lease contains three five-year renewal options.

On October 18, 2023, the Company entered into a lease for approximately 120,000 square feet of space to serve as the Company’s new campus in Nashville, Tennessee. The lease term commenced on November 1, 2023, with an initial lease term of 15 years. The lease contains two five-year renewal options.  See Note 12, “Real Estate Transactions”.

On September 28, 2023, the Company purchased a 90,000 square foot property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania for approximately $10.2 million and subsequently on January 30, 2024 entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for this property.  See Note 12, “Real Estate Transactions”.  As of December 31, 2023, this property was classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. However, the sale was consummated in the first quarter of the current year.
The following table presents components of lease cost and classification on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:


 
  
   
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
in thousands
  
 Consolidated Statement of Operations Classification
  
2024
    
2023
  
Operating Lease Cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
  
$
4,800
    
$
4,872
  
Finance lease cost
  
 
    
     
 
Amortization of leased assets
  
 Depreciation and amortization
    
369
      
-
  
Interest on lease Liabilities
  
 Interest expense
    
487
      
-
  
Variable lease cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
    
88
      
66
  
 
  
      
  
$
5,744
    
$
4,938
  

The net change in ROU asset and finance lease liability is split between principal payments, interest expense and amortization expense. Principal payments are classified in the financing section, interest expense and amortization expense are broken out separately in the operating section of the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our leases are as follows:
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Cash flow information:
            
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
            
Operating Cash Flows - operating leases
   $ 4,495     $ 3,918  
Operating Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ 487     $ -  
Financing Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ -   $ -  
                 
Non-cash activity:
                
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
                
Operating leases
   $ 15,714     $ 2,142  
Finance leases
   $ 12,570     $ -  

During the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company entered into one new lease that resulted in noncash re-measurement of the related ROU asset and operating lease liability of $15.7 million.  In addition, during the three months ended March 31, 2024, the Company entered into one finance lease that resulted in a noncash re-measurement of the related ROU asset and finance lease liability of $12.6 million.

Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for our leases are as follows:

 
As of
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Weighted-average remaining lease term
  

   

 
Operating leases
   12.51 years
     11.15 years
  
Finance leases
   17.08 years
       -
  

             
Weighted-average discount rate
  
         
Operating leases
     6.84 %     6.99 %
Finance leases
     7.71 %     -  

Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for our leases as of March 31, 2024, are as follows:
    Operating Leases     Finance Leases  
Year ending December 31,
            
2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024)
  
$
13,558
     $ 1,216  
2025
    
18,086
       506  
2026
    
15,567
       2,817  
2027
    
12,681
       2,918  
2028
    
12,512
       3,023  
2029
    
10,637
       3,132  
Thereafter
    
84,883
       43,418  
Total lease payments
    
167,924
       57,030  
Less: imputed interest
    
(54,155
)
     (28,221 )
Present value of lease liabilities
  
$
113,769
     $ 28,809  
v3.24.1.u1
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]  
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS
5.
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company reviews the carrying value of its long-lived assets and identifiable intangibles annually, or more frequently if necessary, for possible impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.  If the Company determines that an asset’s carrying value is impaired, it will record a write-down of the carrying value of the asset and charge the impairment as an operating expense in the period in which the determination is made.  For other long-lived assets, including ROU lease assets, the Company evaluates assets for recoverability when there is an indication of potential impairment. If the undiscounted cash flows from a group of assets being evaluated is less than the carrying value of that group of assets, the fair value of the asset group is determined and the carrying value of the asset group is written down to fair value.
When we perform the quantitative impairment test for long-lived assets, we examine estimated future cash flows using Level 3 inputs. These cash flows are evaluated by using weighted probability techniques as well as comparisons of past performance against projections. Assets may also be evaluated by identifying independent market values.
For the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, there were no impairments of goodwill or long-lived assets.

The carrying amount of goodwill at March 31, 2024 is as follows:

 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
    
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
    
Net
Goodwill
Balance
  
Balance as of January 1, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  
Adjustments
    
-
      
-
   
-
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  
v3.24.1.u1
LONG-TERM DEBT
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
LONG-TERM DEBT [Abstract]  
LONG-TERM DEBT
6.
LONG-TERM DEBT

Credit Facility

On February 16, 2024, the Company entered into a secured credit agreement (the “Fifth Third Credit Agreement”) with Fifth Third Bank, National Association (the “Bank”), pursuant to which the Company, as borrower, has obtained a revolving credit facility in the aggregate principal amount of $40.0 million including a $10.0 million letter of credit sublimit and a $20.0 million accordion feature (the “Facility”), the proceeds of which are to be used for working capital, general corporate and certain other permitted purposes. The Facility is guaranteed by the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries and is secured by a first priority lien in favor of the Bank on substantially all of the personal property owned by the Company and its subsidiaries. The term of the Facility is 36 months, maturing on February 16, 2027.

Each advance under the Facility will bear interest on the outstanding principal amount thereof from the date when made at an interest rate determined at the election of the Company at either the Tranche Rate (which is the forward-looking Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) for one or three months), or the Base Rate (which is a variable per annum rate, as of any date of determination, equal to the Bank’s Prime Rate), plus an Applicable Margin.  The Applicable Margin is determined pursuant to a Pricing Grid, which for loans subject to the Tranche Rate varies from 1.75% to 2.50% and for loans subject to the Base Rate varies from 0.75% to 1.50%. The Applicable Margin may change quarterly based on the Total Leverage Ratio at such time.  The Total Leverage Ratio is determined with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for an applicable quarterly period by dividing the aggregate principal amount of various forms of borrowed indebtedness as of the last day of a determination period by EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization) for such period.  Interest is paid in arrears, either quarterly or monthly depending on the Company’s interest rate election, with the principal due at maturity.

Under the terms of the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company will pay to the Bank an unused facility fee on the average daily unused balance of the Facility at a rate per annum equal to 0.50%, which fee is payable in arrears on dates when interest is due and payable. The Company will also pay to the Bank a letter of credit fee equal to the Applicable Margin for loans subject to the Tranche Rate multiplied by the maximum amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit.

The Fifth Third Credit Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and affirmative and negative covenants, as well as events of default customary for facilities of this type. In connection with the Fifth Third Credit Agreement, the Company paid the Bank a closing fee in the amount of $200,000 and other customary fees and reimbursements.  As of March 31, 2024, there was no debt outstanding under the Facility.
v3.24.1.u1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]  
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
7.
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Common Stock

Holders of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors and have the right to one vote per share on all matters requiring shareholder approval. The Company has not declared or paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since the Company’s Board of Directors discontinued our quarterly cash dividend program in February 2015. The Company currently has no intention to pay cash dividends to holders of Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Restricted Stock
The Company currently has only one active stock incentive plan: the Lincoln Educational Services Corporation 2020 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “LTIP”).

LTIP

On March 26, 2020, the Board of Directors adopted the LTIP to provide an incentive to certain directors, officers, employees and consultants of the Company to align their interests in the Company’s success with those of its shareholders through the grant of equity-based awards. On June 16, 2020, the shareholders of the Company approved the LTIP. The LTIP is administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, or such other qualified committee appointed by the Board of Directors, which will, among other duties, have the full power and authority to take all actions and make all determinations required or provided for under the LTIP. Pursuant to the LTIP, the Company may grant options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options. Under the LTIP, employees may surrender shares as payment of applicable income tax withholding on the vested Restricted Stock. The LTIP has a duration of 10 years. On February 23, 2023, the Board of Directors approved, subject to shareholder approval, the amendment of the LTIP to increase the aggregate number of shares available under the LTIP from 2,000,000 shares to 4,000,000 shares. The amendment was approved and adopted by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 5, 2023.

For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, the Company completed a net share settlement for 315,611 and 297,380 restricted shares on behalf of certain employees that participate in the LTIP upon the vesting of the restricted shares pursuant to the terms of the LTIP.  The net share settlement was in connection with income taxes incurred on restricted shares that vested and were transferred to the employees during 2024 and/or 2023, creating taxable income for the employees.  At the employees’ request, the Company has paid these taxes on behalf of the employees in exchange for the employees returning an equivalent value of restricted shares to the Company.  These transactions resulted in a decrease of $3.1 million and $1.8 million for each of the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively, to equity on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as the cash payment of the taxes effectively was a repurchase of the restricted shares granted in previous years.

The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to Restricted Stock:
 
Shares
    
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
  
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at December 31, 2023
    
1,398,675
    
$
5.16
  
Granted
    
400,212
      
9.62
  
Vested
    
(759,731
)
    
6.40
  
                 
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at March 31, 2024
    
1,039,156
     $
7.62
  


The Restricted Stock expense for the three months ended March 31, 2024, and 2023 was $1.1 million and $0.8 million, respectively. The unrecognized Restricted Stock expense as of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023 was $7.1 million and $4.3 million, respectively.  As of March 31, 2024, the outstanding shares of Restricted Stock had an aggregate intrinsic value of $14.4 million.

Share Repurchase Plan

On May 24, 2022, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a share repurchase program of up to $30.0 million of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock.  The repurchase program was authorized for 12 months. Pursuant to the program, purchases may be made, from time to time, in open-market transactions at prevailing market prices, in privately negotiated transactions or by other means as determined by the Company’s management and in accordance with applicable federal securities laws. The timing of purchases and the number of shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, trading volume, corporate and regulatory requirements and market conditions. The Company retains the right to limit, terminate or extend the share repurchase program at any time without prior notice.

Subsequently, the Board of Directors extended the share repurchase program for an additional 12 months and authorized the repurchase of an additional $10.0 million of the Company’s Common Stock, for an aggregate of up to $30.6 million in additional repurchases.

The following table presents information about our repurchases of Common Stock, all of which were completed through open market purchases:


  
Three Months Ended
  

 
March 31,
  
(in thousands, except share data)
  
2024
    
2023
  
Total number of shares repurchased1
    
-
      
104,030
  
Total cost of shares repurchased
  
$
-
    
$
556
  


1 These shares were subsequently canceled and recorded as a reduction of Common Stock.
v3.24.1.u1
INCOME TAXES
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]  
INCOME TAXES
8.
INCOME TAXES

The benefit for income taxes was $0.1 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectfully.  The reduction was primarily due to lower discrete tax benefit in the current year.
v3.24.1.u1
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
9.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

There are no material developments relating to previously disclosed legal proceedings. See the Company’s Form 10-K and previous Form 10-Qs “Legal Proceedings” for information regarding existing legal proceedings. Additionally, see “Regulatory Updates” for additional information concerning the status of Borrower Defense to Repayment Applications.


In the ordinary conduct of its business, the Company is subject to certain lawsuits, investigations and claims, including, but not limited to, claims involving students or graduates and routine employment matters. Although the Company cannot predict with certainty the ultimate resolution of lawsuits, investigations and claims asserted against it, the Company does not believe that any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
v3.24.1.u1
SEGMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
SEGMENTS [Abstract]  
SEGMENTS
10.
SEGMENTS

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. These segments are defined below:
Campus Operations – The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are continuing in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance.


Transitional – The Transitional segment refers to businesses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught out.  As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment.  However, in the prior year the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.


We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

Summary financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
  
   
Revenue
    
Operating Income (Loss)
  
   
2024
    
% of
Total
    
2023
    
% of
Total
    
2024
    
2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
86,352
      
98.9
%
  
$
12,324
    
$
10,109
  
Transitional
    
-
      
0.0
%
    
932
      
1.1
%
    
-
      
(197
)
Corporate
    
-
       0.0 %    
-
       0.0 %    
(12,782
)
    
(11,028
)
Total
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
87,284
      
100.0
%
  
$
(458
)
  
$
(1,116
)


 
Total Assets
  
   
March 31, 2024
    
December 31, 2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
249,738
    
$
234,940
  
Transitional
    
-
      
262
  
Corporate
    
105,425
      
110,047
  
Total
  
$
355,163
    
$
345,249
  
v3.24.1.u1
FAIR VALUE
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
FAIR VALUE [Abstract]  
FAIR VALUE
11.
FAIR VALUE

The accounting framework for determining fair value includes a hierarchy for ranking the quality and reliability of the information used to measure fair value, which enables the reader of the financial statements to assess the inputs used to develop those measurements. The fair value hierarchy consists of three tiers:

Level 1:    Defined as quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2:    Defined as inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
Level 3:    Defined as unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

The Company measures the fair value of money market funds and treasury bills using Level 1 inputs.  Pricing sources may include industry standard data providers, security master files from large financial institutions and other third-party sources used to determine a daily market value.

The following charts reflect the fair market value of cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

   
March 31, 2024
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  

   
December 31, 2023
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
9,037
    
$
9,037
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
9,037
  
Treasury bill
    
20,343
      
20,343
      
-
      
-
      
20,343
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
29,380
    
$
29,380
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
29,380
  

The carrying amount of the Company’s financial instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accrued expenses and other short-term liabilities, approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these items.
v3.24.1.u1
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS [Abstract]  
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
12.
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS


Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus



On January 30, 2024 the Company entered into a sale-leaseback transaction for the property located at 311 Veterans Highway, Levittown, Pennsylvania.  This property is 90,000 square feet and was previously purchased by the Company on September 28, 2023 for approximately $10.2 million.  The sale transaction was for an aggregate sale price of approximately $11.0 million.   Simultaneously with the closing of the sale, the Company and the purchaser have entered into a triple-net lease agreement pursuant to which the property is being leased back to the Company for a 20-year term.  The lease agreement includes a $2.5 million tenant improvement allowance.



The Company plans to invest approximately $15.0 million, net of the tenant improvement allowance, in the buildout of new classrooms and training areas to ensure a best-in-class campus that provides a positive experience for students, faculty, and industry partners.   Students training at the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will go on to launch new careers in the automotive, welding, HVAC and electrical industries throughout the greater Philadelphia area.  As of December 31, 2023, the new campus is classified as held-for-sale on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.



The Company has served the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area at its current campus located at 9191 Torresdale Avenue for more than 60 years.  The new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus is expected to open in the second half of 2025 and is not expected to impact the student experience at the existing campus at 9191 Torresdale Avenue.  While the current campus can accommodate 250 students, the new Levittown, Pennsylvania campus will have the capability to handle more than double this capacity.  The existing campus will continue to operate until the buildout at the new location is fully complete to ensure a seamless transition.   Additionally, the facility will have the extra capacity to accommodate several potential industry partners and future program expansions.



Property Sale Agreement – Nashville, Tennessee Campus



On September 24, 2021, Nashville Acquisition, L.L.C., a subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Contract for the Purchase of Real Estate (the “Nashville Contract”) to sell the nearly 16-acre property located at 524 Gallatin Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee 37206, at which the Company operates its Nashville campus, to SLC Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Southern Land Company (“SLC”).



On June 8, 2023, the Company closed on the sale of its Nashville, Tennessee property to East Nashville Owner, LLC, an affiliate of SLC, for approximately $33.8 million pursuant to the Nashville Contract. The net proceeds from the Nashville sale, net of closing costs, are available for working capital, acquisitions, other strategic initiatives, and general corporate purposes.  In connection with the sale, the parties entered into a lease agreement allowing the Company to continue to occupy the campus and operate it on a rent-free basis for a period of 15 months plus options to extend the lease for up to three consecutive 30-day terms at $150,000 per extension term.  The carrying value of the campus is approximately $4.5 million and the estimated fair value of the rent for the 15-month rent-free period was approximately $2.3 million at the consummation of the lease.  As of March 31, 2024, approximately $0.8 million remains and is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
STUDENT RECEIVABLES [Abstract]  
STUDENT RECEIVABLES
13.
STUDENT RECEIVABLES



Student receivables represent funds owed to us in exchange for the educational services provided to a student. Student receivables are reflected net of an allowance for credit losses at the end of the reporting period. Student receivables, net, are reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as components of both current and non-current assets.



Our students pay for their costs through a variety of funding sources, including federal loan and grant programs, institutional payment plans, Veterans Administration and other military funding and grants, private and institutional scholarships and cash payments. Cash receipts from government-related sources are typically received during the current academic term. Students who have not applied for any type of financial aid generally set up a payment plan with the institution and make payments on a monthly basis as per the terms of the payment plan. A student receivable balance is written off when deemed uncollectable, which is typically once a student is out of school and there has been no payment activity on the account for 150 days.  If, however, the student does remit a payment during this time period, the 150-day policy for write-off starts again until the students either (1) continues making payments or (2) the student does not make any additional payments and is then subsequently written off after 150 days.



Effective January 1, 2023, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” commonly known as “CECL.” On the January 1, 2023 date of adoption, based on forecasts of macroeconomic conditions and exposures at that time, the aggregate impact to the Company resulted in an opening balance sheet adjustment increasing the allowance for credit losses related to the Company’s accounts receivables of approximately $10.8 million, a decrease in retained earnings of $7.9 million, after-tax and a deferred tax asset increase of $2.9 million.



Students enrolled in the Company’s programs are provided with a variety of funding resources, including financial aid, grants, scholarships and private loans.  After exhausting all fund options, if the student is still in need of additional financing, the Company may offer an institutional loan as a lender of last resort.  Institutional loan terms are pre-determined at enrollment and are not typically restructured.



Our standard student receivable allowance is based on an estimate of lifetime expected credit losses on student receivables that considers vintages of receivables to determine a loss rate.  In considering lifetime credit losses, if the expected life goes beyond the Company’s reasonable ability to forecast, the Company then reverts back to historical loss experience as an indicator of collections.  In determining the expected credit losses for the period, student receivables were disaggregated and pooled into two different categories to refine the calculation.  Other information considered included external factors outside the Company’s control, which included, but was not limited to, the effects of COVID-19.  Given that collection history during the pandemic was not considered to be a reliable indicator of a student’s repayment history, the Company adjusted the historical loss calculation by normalizing the financial data relating to that time period.  Our estimation methodology further considered a number of quantitative and qualitative factors that, based on our collection experience, we believe have an impact on our repayment risk and ability to collect student receivables. Changes in the trends in any of these factors may impact our estimate of the allowance for credit losses. These factors include, but are not limited to: internal repayment history, student status, changes in the current economic condition, legislative or regulatory environments, internal cash collection forecasts and the ability to complete the federal financial aid process with the student. These factors are monitored and assessed on a regular basis. Overall, our allowance estimation process for student receivables is validated by trending analysis and comparing estimated and actual performance.


Student Receivables



The Company has student receivables that are due greater than 12 months from the date of our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. As of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023, the amount of non-current student receivables under payment plans that is longer than 12 months in duration, net of allowance for credit losses, was $17.4 million and $17.5 million, respectively.



The following table presents the amortized cost basis of student receivables as of March 31, 2024 by year of origination.



   
Student
  
Year
  
Receivables (1)
  
2024
  
$
50,484
  
2023
    
35,742
  
2022
    
10,731
  
2021
    
5,989
  
2020
    
2,628
  
Prior
    
2,562
  
Total
  
$
108,136
  

 
(1)
Student receivables are presented on a gross basis from the individual students.  The total receivable amount above excludes federal subsidies reflected on the students account but not yet received from the government.  Also, it excludes all receivables from corporate partnerships, which are otherwise included under accounts receivable in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.


The following table presents write-off amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2024 based on the students’ school departure year.



Year
  
Write-Off’s
  
2024
  
$
-
  
2023
    
7,854
  
2022
    
1,121
  
2021
    
433
  
2020
    
154
  
Prior
    
123
  
Total
  
$
9,685
  



The Company does not utilize or maintain data pertaining to student credit information.



Allowance for Credit Losses



We define student receivables as a portfolio segment under ASC Topic 326. Changes in our current and non-current allowance for credit losses related to our student receivable portfolio are calculated in accordance with the guidance effective January 1, 2023 under CECL for the three months ended March 31, 2024.


    Allowance for
  
    Credit Losses
  
Balance as of December 31, 2023
  
$
53,811
  
Provision for credit losses
    
12,213
  
Write-off’s
    
(9,685
)
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
56,339
  

 

Fair Value Measurements



The carrying amount reported in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the current portion of student receivable approximates fair value because of the nature of these financial instruments as they generally have short maturity periods. It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of the non-current portion of student receivables, since observable market data is not readily available, and no reasonable estimation methodology exists.
v3.24.1.u1
INSIDER TRADING ARRANGEMENTS
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Insider Trading Arrangements [Line Items]  
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted false
Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
Non-Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Terminated false
v3.24.1.u1
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION [Abstract]  
Business Activities
Business Activities— Lincoln Educational Services Corporation and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”, “we”, “our”, and “us”, as applicable) provide diversified career-oriented post-secondary education to recent high school graduates and working adults.  The Company, which currently operates 22 campuses in 13 states, offers programs in skilled trades (which include HVAC, welding, computerized numerical control and electrical and electronic systems technology, among other programs), automotive technology, healthcare services (which include nursing, dental assistant, and medical administrative assistant, among other programs), hospitality services (which include culinary, therapeutic massage, cosmetology, and aesthetics), and information technology.  The schools operate under Lincoln Technical Institute, Lincoln College of Technology, Lincoln Culinary Institute, Euphoria Institute of Beauty Arts and Sciences, and associated brand names.  Most of the campuses serve major metropolitan markets and each typically offers courses in multiple areas of study.  Five of the campuses are destination schools, which attract students from across the United States and, in some cases, from abroad. The Company’s other campuses primarily attract students from their local communities and surrounding areas.  All of the campuses are nationally accredited and are eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs by the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) and applicable state education agencies and accrediting commissions, which allow students to apply for and access federal student loans as well as other forms of financial aid.
Basis of Presentation
Basis of Presentation – The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements.  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements have been omitted or condensed pursuant to such regulations.  These financial statements, which should be read in conjunction with the December 31, 2023 audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and related disclosures of the Company included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 (“Form 10-K”), reflect all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for such periods.  The results of operations for the three months ending March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

As of January 1, 2023, the Company’s business has been organized into two reportable business segments: (a) Campus Operations; and (b) Transitional. The Campus Operations segment includes campuses that are in operation and contribute to the Company’s core operations and performance. The Transitional segment refers to campuses that are marked for closure and are currently being taught-out. As of March 31, 2024, there were no campuses classified in the Transitional segment. However, in the prior year, the Company’s Somerville, Massachusetts campus was classified in the Transitional segment and was fully taught out as of December 31, 2023.

We evaluate performance based on operating results.  Adjustments to reconcile segment results to consolidated results are included in the caption “Corporate,” which primarily includes unallocated corporate activity.

The unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements
Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements – The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the period.  On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates the estimates and assumptions, including those used to determine the incremental borrowing rate to calculate lease liabilities and right-of-use (“ROU”) assets, lease term to calculate lease cost, revenue recognition, bad debts, impairments, useful lives of fixed assets, income taxes, benefit plans and certain accruals.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
New Accounting Pronouncements
New Accounting Pronouncements – In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU 2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU may have on our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures. The amendments in this ASU require that public business entities on an annual basis 1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation, and 2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. The amendments require disclosure about income taxes paid by federal, state and foreign taxes, and by individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid is equal or greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid. The amendment also requires entities to disclose income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense disaggregated between domestic and foreign and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state and foreign. For all public business entities, ASU 2023-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024; early adoption is permitted.  We do not expect this ASU will have a material impact on the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
Income Taxes
Income Taxes— The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). This statement requires an asset and a liability approach for measuring deferred taxes based on temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities existing at each balance sheet date using enacted tax rates for years in which taxes are expected to be paid or recovered.
In accordance with ASC 740, the Company assesses our deferred tax asset to determine whether all or any portion of the asset is more likely than not unrealizable.  A valuation allowance is required to be established or maintained when, based on currently available information, it is more likely than not that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, our assessment considers whether there has been sufficient income in recent years and whether sufficient income is expected in future years in order to utilize the deferred tax asset. In evaluating the realizability of deferred income tax assets, the Company considers, among other things, historical levels of income, expected future income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary reporting differences, and the expected impact of tax planning strategies that may be implemented to prevent the potential loss of future income tax benefits. Significant judgment is required in determining the future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and/or tax returns.  Differences between anticipated and actual outcomes of these future tax consequences could have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Position or Results of Operations. Changes in, among other things, income tax legislation, statutory income tax rates or future income levels could materially impact the Company’s valuation of income tax assets and liabilities and could cause our income tax provision to vary significantly among financial reporting periods.

We recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. During the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, we did not record any interest and penalties expense associated with uncertain tax positions, as we do not have any uncertain tax positions.
v3.24.1.u1
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE [Abstract]  
Weighted Average Number of Common Shares Used to Compute Basic and Diluted Loss Per Share
The weighted average number of common shares used to compute basic and diluted loss per share for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was as follows:

  Three Months Ended  

 
March 31,
  

 
2024
    
2023
  
Basic shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    
-
      
-
  
Diluted shares outstanding
    
30,301,475
      
30,038,558
  
v3.24.1.u1
REVENUE RECOGNITION (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
REVENUE RECOGNITION [Abstract]  
Depicts Timing of Revenue Recognition
The following table depicts the timing of revenue recognition:

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
5,747
    
$
-
    
$
5,747
  
Services transferred over time
    
97,619
      
-
      
97,619
  
Total revenues
  
$
103,366
    
$
-
    
$
103,366
  


 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023
  
   
Campus
Operations
     Transitional    
Consolidated
  
Timing of Revenue Recognition
                  
Services transferred at a point in time
  
$
4,699
    
$
9
    
$
4,708
  
Services transferred over time
    
81,653
      
923
      
82,576
  
Total revenues
  
$
86,352
    
$
932
    
$
87,284
  
v3.24.1.u1
LEASES (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
LEASES [Abstract]  
Components of Lease Cost
The following table presents components of lease cost and classification on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:


 
  
   
  
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
in thousands
  
 Consolidated Statement of Operations Classification
  
2024
    
2023
  
Operating Lease Cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
  
$
4,800
    
$
4,872
  
Finance lease cost
  
 
    
     
 
Amortization of leased assets
  
 Depreciation and amortization
    
369
      
-
  
Interest on lease Liabilities
  
 Interest expense
    
487
      
-
  
Variable lease cost
  
 Selling, general and administrative
    
88
      
66
  
 
  
      
  
$
5,744
    
$
4,938
  
Supplemental Cash Flow Information and Non-cash Activity Related to Leases
Supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activity related to our leases are as follows:
   
Three Months Ended
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Cash flow information:
            
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities
            
Operating Cash Flows - operating leases
   $ 4,495     $ 3,918  
Operating Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ 487     $ -  
Financing Cash Flows - finance leases
   $ -   $ -  
                 
Non-cash activity:
                
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets
                
Operating leases
   $ 15,714     $ 2,142  
Finance leases
   $ 12,570     $ -  
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term and Discount Rate
Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate for our leases are as follows:

 
As of
March 31,
  
   
2024
    
2023
  
Weighted-average remaining lease term
  

   

 
Operating leases
   12.51 years
     11.15 years
  
Finance leases
   17.08 years
       -
  

             
Weighted-average discount rate
  
         
Operating leases
     6.84 %     6.99 %
Finance leases
     7.71 %     -  
Maturities of Lease Liabilities
Maturities of lease liabilities by fiscal year for our leases as of March 31, 2024, are as follows:
    Operating Leases     Finance Leases  
Year ending December 31,
            
2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024)
  
$
13,558
     $ 1,216  
2025
    
18,086
       506  
2026
    
15,567
       2,817  
2027
    
12,681
       2,918  
2028
    
12,512
       3,023  
2029
    
10,637
       3,132  
Thereafter
    
84,883
       43,418  
Total lease payments
    
167,924
       57,030  
Less: imputed interest
    
(54,155
)
     (28,221 )
Present value of lease liabilities
  
$
113,769
     $ 28,809  
v3.24.1.u1
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]  
Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill
The carrying amount of goodwill at March 31, 2024 is as follows:

 
Gross
Goodwill
Balance
    
Accumulated
Impairment
Losses
    
Net
Goodwill
Balance
  
Balance as of January 1, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  
Adjustments
    
-
      
-
   
-
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
117,176
    
$
(106,434
)
  
$
10,742
  
v3.24.1.u1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]  
Transactions Pertaining to Restricted Stock
The following is a summary of transactions pertaining to Restricted Stock:
 
Shares
    
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share
  
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at December 31, 2023
    
1,398,675
    
$
5.16
  
Granted
    
400,212
      
9.62
  
Vested
    
(759,731
)
    
6.40
  
                 
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding at March 31, 2024
    
1,039,156
     $
7.62
  
Repurchases of Common Stock
The following table presents information about our repurchases of Common Stock, all of which were completed through open market purchases:


  
Three Months Ended
  

 
March 31,
  
(in thousands, except share data)
  
2024
    
2023
  
Total number of shares repurchased1
    
-
      
104,030
  
Total cost of shares repurchased
  
$
-
    
$
556
  


1 These shares were subsequently canceled and recorded as a reduction of Common Stock.
v3.24.1.u1
SEGMENTS (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
SEGMENTS [Abstract]  
Financial Information by Reporting Segment
Summary financial information by reporting segment is as follows:

 
For the Three Months Ended March 31,
  
   
Revenue
    
Operating Income (Loss)
  
   
2024
    
% of
Total
    
2023
    
% of
Total
    
2024
    
2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
86,352
      
98.9
%
  
$
12,324
    
$
10,109
  
Transitional
    
-
      
0.0
%
    
932
      
1.1
%
    
-
      
(197
)
Corporate
    
-
       0.0 %    
-
       0.0 %    
(12,782
)
    
(11,028
)
Total
  
$
103,366
      
100.0
%
  
$
87,284
      
100.0
%
  
$
(458
)
  
$
(1,116
)


 
Total Assets
  
   
March 31, 2024
    
December 31, 2023
  
Campus Operations
  
$
249,738
    
$
234,940
  
Transitional
    
-
      
262
  
Corporate
    
105,425
      
110,047
  
Total
  
$
355,163
    
$
345,249
  
v3.24.1.u1
FAIR VALUE (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
FAIR VALUE [Abstract]  
Fair Market Value of Cash Equivalents and Short-term Investments
The following charts reflect the fair market value of cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.

   
March 31, 2024
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
54,035
    
$
54,035
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
54,035
  

   
December 31, 2023
  
   
Carrying
    
Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for Identical
Assets
    
Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs
    
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
        
   
Amount
    
(Level 1)
    
(Level 2)
    
(Level 3)
    
Total
  
Cash equivalents:
                              
Money market fund
  
$
9,037
    
$
9,037
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
9,037
  
Treasury bill
    
20,343
      
20,343
      
-
      
-
      
20,343
  
    Total cash equivalents and short-term investments
  
$
29,380
    
$
29,380
    
$
-
    
$
-
    
$
29,380
  
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES (Tables)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
STUDENT RECEIVABLES [Abstract]  
Student Receivables

The following table presents the amortized cost basis of student receivables as of March 31, 2024 by year of origination.



   
Student
  
Year
  
Receivables (1)
  
2024
  
$
50,484
  
2023
    
35,742
  
2022
    
10,731
  
2021
    
5,989
  
2020
    
2,628
  
Prior
    
2,562
  
Total
  
$
108,136
  

 
(1)
Student receivables are presented on a gross basis from the individual students.  The total receivable amount above excludes federal subsidies reflected on the students account but not yet received from the government.  Also, it excludes all receivables from corporate partnerships, which are otherwise included under accounts receivable in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Student Receivables Write-off

The following table presents write-off amounts during the three months ended March 31, 2024 based on the students’ school departure year.



Year
  
Write-Off’s
  
2024
  
$
-
  
2023
    
7,854
  
2022
    
1,121
  
2021
    
433
  
2020
    
154
  
Prior
    
123
  
Total
  
$
9,685
  
Allowance for Credit Losses

We define student receivables as a portfolio segment under ASC Topic 326. Changes in our current and non-current allowance for credit losses related to our student receivable portfolio are calculated in accordance with the guidance effective January 1, 2023 under CECL for the three months ended March 31, 2024.


    Allowance for
  
    Credit Losses
  
Balance as of December 31, 2023
  
$
53,811
  
Provision for credit losses
    
12,213
  
Write-off’s
    
(9,685
)
Balance as of March 31, 2024
  
$
56,339
  
v3.24.1.u1
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION, Business Activities (Details)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
State
Campus
Business Activities [Abstract]  
Number of campuses 22
Number of states in which schools operate across the United States | State 13
Number of campuses treated as destination schools 5
v3.24.1.u1
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION, Basis of Presentation (Details)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022
Segment
Mar. 31, 2024
Campus
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]    
Number of reportable segments | Segment 2  
Number of campuses   22
Transitional [Member]    
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]    
Number of campuses   0
v3.24.1.u1
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION, Income Taxes (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
Income Taxes [Abstract]    
Interest and penalties expense $ 0 $ 0
Uncertain tax positions $ 0 $ 0
v3.24.1.u1
NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) - shares
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding Basic and Diluted [Abstract]    
Basic shares outstanding (in shares) 30,301,475 30,038,558
Dilutive effect of stock options (in shares) 0 0
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares) 30,301,475 30,038,558
Antidilutive shares excluded from computation of loss per share (in shares) 169,288 231,124
v3.24.1.u1
REVENUE RECOGNITION (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
REVENUE RECOGNITION [Abstract]      
Unearned tuition $ 22,265   $ 26,906
Revenue recognized included in contract liability 21,600    
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 103,366 $ 87,284  
Services Transferred at a Point in Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 5,747 4,708  
Services Transferred over Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 97,619 82,576  
Campus Operations [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 103,366 86,352  
Campus Operations [Member] | Services Transferred at a Point in Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 5,747 4,699  
Campus Operations [Member] | Services Transferred over Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 97,619 81,653  
Transitional [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 0 932  
Transitional [Member] | Services Transferred at a Point in Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues 0 9  
Transitional [Member] | Services Transferred over Time [Member]      
Disaggregation of Revenue [Abstract]      
Total revenues $ 0 $ 923  
v3.24.1.u1
LEASES (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Oct. 31, 2023
Option
Squarefeet
Oct. 18, 2023
Option
Squarefeet
Sep. 28, 2023
USD ($)
ft²
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Lease
Mar. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Operating Leases [Abstract]          
Approximate area of leased school space | Squarefeet 100,000 120,000      
Operating lease term 21 years 6 months 15 years      
Number of renewal options | Option 3 2      
Renewal lease term 5 years 5 years      
Components of Lease Cost [Abstract]          
Amortization of leased assets       $ 369 $ 0
Total lease cost       5,744 4,938
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities [Abstract]          
Operating Cash Flows - operating leases       4,495 3,918
Operating Cash Flows - finance leases       487 0
Financing Cash Flows - finance leases       0 0
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets [Abstract]          
Operating leases       15,714 2,142
Finance leases       $ 12,570 $ 0
Number of new leases | Lease       1  
Number of finance leases | Lease       1  
Weighted Average Remaining Lease Term [Abstract]          
Operating leases       12 years 6 months 3 days 11 years 1 month 24 days
Finance leases       17 years 29 days  
Weighted Average Discount Rate [Abstract]          
Operating leases       6.84% 6.99%
Finance leases       7.71% 0.00%
Operating Leases [Abstract]          
2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024)       $ 13,558  
2025       18,086  
2026       15,567  
2027       12,681  
2028       12,512  
2029       10,637  
Thereafter       84,883  
Total lease payments       167,924  
Less: imputed interest       (54,155)  
Present value of lease liabilities       113,769  
Finance Leases [Abstract]          
2024 (excluding the three months ended March 31, 2024)       1,216  
2025       506  
2026       2,817  
2027       2,918  
2028       3,023  
2029       3,132  
Thereafter       43,418  
Total lease payments       57,030  
Less: imputed interest       (28,221)  
Present value of lease liabilities       28,809  
Selling, General and Administrative [Member]          
Components of Lease Cost [Abstract]          
Operating lease cost       4,800 $ 4,872
Variable lease cost       88 66
Depreciation and Amortization [Member]          
Components of Lease Cost [Abstract]          
Amortization of leased assets       369 0
Interest Expense [Member]          
Components of Lease Cost [Abstract]          
Interest on lease liabilities       $ 487 $ 0
Purchase Transaction [Member]          
Operating Leases [Abstract]          
Area of property purchased | ft²     90,000    
Property purchase price     $ 10,200    
Minimum [Member]          
Operating Leases [Abstract]          
Remaining lease term       1 year  
Maximum [Member]          
Operating Leases [Abstract]          
Remaining lease term       21 years  
v3.24.1.u1
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2023
GOODWILL AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS [Abstract]      
Goodwill Impairment loss $ 0 $ 0  
Impairment of long-lived assets 0 $ 0  
Changes in carrying amount of goodwill [Abstract]      
Gross Goodwill Balance 117,176   $ 117,176
Accumulated Impairment Losses (106,434)   (106,434)
Net Goodwill Balance 10,742   $ 10,742
Adjustments $ 0    
v3.24.1.u1
LONG-TERM DEBT (Details) - Credit Facility [Member] - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Feb. 16, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity $ 20,000  
Term of facility   36 months
Expiration date of credit facility   Feb. 16, 2027
Line of credit facility, frequency of principal and interest periodic payment   quarterly or monthly
Payments for closing fee $ 200,000  
Credit agreement   $ 0
SOFR [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Term of variable rate   1 month
SOFR [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Term of variable rate   3 months
Tranche Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Interest rate on credit facility 1.75%  
Tranche Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Interest rate on credit facility 2.50%  
Base Rate [Member] | Minimum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Interest rate on credit facility 0.75%  
Base Rate [Member] | Maximum [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Interest rate on credit facility 1.50%  
Letter of Credit [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity $ 10,000  
Percentage of letter of credit fee, annual payment 0.50%  
Revolving Loan [Member]    
Long-term debt [Abstract]    
Line of credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity $ 40,000  
v3.24.1.u1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, Common Stock (Details) - Common Stock [Member]
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Vote
Common Stock [Abstract]  
Common stock voting rights per share | Vote 1
Cash dividends declared or paid | $ $ 0
v3.24.1.u1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, Restricted Stock and Stock Options (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Plan
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2023
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
May 05, 2023
shares
May 04, 2023
shares
Stockholders' Equity Note Details [Abstract]          
Number of stock incentive plans | Plan 1        
Restricted Stock [Member]          
Shares [Abstract]          
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding, beginning balance (in shares) 1,398,675        
Granted (in shares) 400,212        
Vested (in shares) (759,731)        
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding, ending balance (in shares) 1,039,156        
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]          
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding, beginning balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 5.16        
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 9.62        
Vested (in dollars per share) | $ / shares 6.4        
Nonvested Restricted Stock outstanding, ending balance (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 7.62        
Recognized restricted stock expense | $ $ 1.1 $ 0.8      
Unrecognized restricted stock expense | $ $ 7.1   $ 4.3    
LTIP [Member]          
Stockholders' Equity Note Details [Abstract]          
Number of shares available for issuance under incentive plan (in shares)       4,000,000 2,000,000
LTIP [Member] | June 16, 2020 [Member]          
Stockholders' Equity Note Details [Abstract]          
Stock option award issuance, plan duration 10 years        
LTIP [Member] | Restricted Stock [Member]          
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value [Abstract]          
Outstanding restricted shares, intrinsic value | $ $ 14.4        
Non Employee Directors Plan [Member]          
Stockholders' Equity Note Details [Abstract]          
Net share settlement for restricted stock (in shares) 315,611 297,380      
Decrease in equity due to payment of tax for employee | $ $ 3.1 $ 1.8      
v3.24.1.u1
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY, Share Repurchase Plan (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
May 06, 2024
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
May 24, 2022
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY [Abstract]        
Authorized amount of share repurchase program       $ 30,000
Period over which common stock can be repurchased   12 months    
Additional period over which common stock can be repurchased 12 months      
Additional authorized amount of share repurchase program $ 10,000      
Additional amount of shares repurchased $ 30,600      
Share Repurchase Program [Abstract]        
Total number of shares repurchased (in shares) [1]   0 104,030  
Amount of shares repurchased   $ 0 $ 556  
[1] These shares were subsequently canceled and recorded as a reduction of Common Stock.
v3.24.1.u1
INCOME TAXES (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
INCOME TAXES [Abstract]    
Benefit for income taxes $ (113) $ (565)
v3.24.1.u1
SEGMENTS (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Campus
Mar. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Dec. 31, 2022
Segment
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
SEGMENTS [Abstract]        
Number of reportable operating segments | Segment     2  
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Number of campuses | Campus 22      
Revenues $ 103,366 $ 87,284    
Percentage of Total Revenue 100.00% 100.00%    
Operating Income (Loss) $ (458) $ (1,116)    
Total Assets 355,163     $ 345,249
Campus Operations [Member]        
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Revenues $ 103,366 86,352    
Transitional [Member]        
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Number of campuses | Campus 0      
Reportable Segments [Member] | Campus Operations [Member]        
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Revenues $ 103,366 $ 86,352    
Percentage of Total Revenue 100.00% 98.90%    
Operating Income (Loss) $ 12,324 $ 10,109    
Total Assets 249,738     234,940
Reportable Segments [Member] | Transitional [Member]        
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Revenues $ 0 $ 932    
Percentage of Total Revenue 0.00% 1.10%    
Operating Income (Loss) $ 0 $ (197)    
Total Assets 0     262
Corporate [Member]        
Summary financial information by reporting segment [Abstract]        
Revenues $ 0 $ 0    
Percentage of Total Revenue 0.00% 0.00%    
Operating Income (Loss) $ (12,782) $ (11,028)    
Total Assets $ 105,425     $ 110,047
v3.24.1.u1
FAIR VALUE (Details) - Recurring [Member] - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Carrying Amount [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments $ 54,035 $ 29,380
Carrying Amount [Member] | Money Market Fund [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents 54,035 9,037
Carrying Amount [Member] | Treasury Bill [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents   20,343
Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments 54,035 29,380
Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Fund [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents 54,035 9,037
Fair Value [Member] | Treasury Bill [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents   20,343
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments 54,035 29,380
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Fund [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents 54,035 9,037
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Treasury Bill [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents   20,343
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments 0 0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Fund [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents 0 0
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Treasury Bill [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents   0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Fair Value [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Total cash equivalents and short-term investments 0 0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Money Market Fund [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents $ 0 0
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member] | Fair Value [Member] | Treasury Bill [Member]    
Fair Value of Financial Instruments Measured on Recurring Basis [Abstract]    
Cash equivalents   $ 0
v3.24.1.u1
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus (Details) - Sale-Leaseback Transaction [Member]
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended
Jan. 30, 2024
USD ($)
Student
Sep. 28, 2023
USD ($)
ft²
Mar. 31, 2024
Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus [Abstract]      
Area of property purchased | ft²   90,000  
Property purchase price   $ 10.2  
Sale price of agreement $ 11.0    
Leaseback agreement term     20 years
Tenant improvement allowance $ 15.0    
Number of students current campus can accommodate | Student 250    
Minimum [Member]      
Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus [Abstract]      
Property served term     60 years
Lease Agreements [Member]      
Purchase and Sale-leaseback Transaction - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Area Campus [Abstract]      
Tenant improvement allowance $ 2.5    
v3.24.1.u1
REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS, Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus (Details)
 3 Months Ended
Jun. 08, 2023
USD ($)
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Term
Dec. 31, 2023
USD ($)
Sep. 24, 2021
a
Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus [Abstract]        
Carrying value   $ 52,005,000 $ 50,857,000  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   $ 6,071,000 $ 5,556,000  
Property Sale Agreement [Member]        
Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus [Abstract]        
Area of property to sell | a       16
Sale price of agreement $ 33,800,000      
Lease period for rent-free basis   15 months    
Period of additional option to extend lease   30 days    
Rental payment per extension term   $ 150,000    
Carrying value   4,500,000    
Amount of lease for rent-free period   2,300,000    
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   $ 800,000    
Property Sale Agreement [Member] | Maximum [Member]        
Property Sale Agreement - Nashville, Tennessee Campus [Abstract]        
Number of additional lease terms | Term   3    
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES, Summary (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
Dec. 31, 2022
Student Receivables [Abstract]      
Write off period for student receivable balance 150 days    
Accounts receivables $ 17,360 $ 17,504  
Retained earnings 69,065 69,279  
Deferred income taxes, net $ 22,796 $ 23,217  
Adjustment [Member] | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 [Member]      
Student Receivables [Abstract]      
Accounts receivables     $ 10,800
Retained earnings     (7,900)
Deferred income taxes, net     $ 2,900
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES, Student Receivables (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Mar. 31, 2024
Dec. 31, 2023
STUDENT RECEIVABLES [Abstract]    
Accounts receivables $ 17,360 $ 17,504
Student Receivables [Abstract]    
2024 [1] 50,484  
2023 [1] 35,742  
2022 [1] 10,731  
2021 [1] 5,989  
2020 [1] 2,628  
Prior [1] 2,562  
Total [1] $ 108,136  
[1] Student receivables are presented on a gross basis from the individual students.  The total receivable amount above excludes federal subsidies reflected on the students account but not yet received from the government.  Also, it excludes all receivables from corporate partnerships, which are otherwise included under accounts receivable in our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES, Write-off (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
USD ($)
Write-Off's [Abstract]  
2024 $ 0
2023 7,854
2022 1,121
2021 433
2020 154
Prior 123
Total $ 9,685
v3.24.1.u1
STUDENT RECEIVABLES, Allowance for Credit Losses (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2024
Mar. 31, 2023
STUDENT RECEIVABLES [Abstract]    
Balance, beginning of period $ 53,811  
Provision for credit losses 12,213 $ 8,233
Write-off's (9,685)  
Balance, at end of period $ 56,339  
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