TROY, Mich., Aug.  13, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kelly Pediatric Therapy, a division of Kelly Education, today released The Hidden Workload Behind School-Based Pediatric Therapy, a new white paper based on original

KELYA

New Survey of 255 School-Based Therapists Reveals Rising Caseloads and Hidden Workload Threatening Student Access to Federally Mandated Services

Kelly Pediatric Therapy White Paper Highlights Staffing Strains in School-Based Therapy

<section class="insight" data-version="1">
  <section data-block="information">
    <h3>Information</h3>
    <p>TROY, Mich., Aug.  13, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kelly Pediatric Therapy, a division of Kelly Education, today released The Hidden Workload Behind School-Based Pediatric Therapy, a new white paper based on original</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-paragraph">
    <h3>AI Summary</h3>
    <p>Kelly Education&#039;s pediatric therapy unit released a white paper highlighting rising caseloads and heavy administrative work in school-based therapy. The findings show staffing pressures and increased complexity, potentially prompting districts to invest in retention and tools. The report could boost near-term demand for Kelly&#039;s pediatric-therapy services and underscore the division&#039;s growth opportunity.</p>
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  <section data-block="ai-summary-bullets">
    <h3>Key Points</h3>
    <ul><li>Kelly Pediatric Therapy released a white paper on school-based workload.</li><li>71% caseloads grew in past two years; 24% significant.</li><li>68% spend 6+ hours weekly on documentation/IEP outside hours.</li><li>64% say complexity increased; mental-health needs rising fastest.</li><li>Publication date Aug 13, 2026; 57% believe districts not prepared.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="companies-mentioned">
    <h3>Companies Mentioned</h3>
    <ul><li><strong>Kelly Services, Inc. (KELYA)</strong>: Parent company; acquired Kelly Pediatric Therapy in 2022; potential uplift from education services growth.</li><li><strong>Kelly Services, Inc. (Class B) (KELYB)</strong>: ADR; same corporate entity; broader market implications tied to Kelly Services&#039; overall valuation.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="category">
    <h3>Industry News</h3>
    <p>Industry News; reflects ongoing staffing and workload dynamics in school-based therapy, a growth driver for Kelly&#039;s specialty services.</p>
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  <section data-block="market-moving">
    <h3>Market-Moving</h3>
    <ul><li>Ongoing therapist shortages could lift demand for Kelly Pediatric Therapy services in districts.</li><li>Administrative burden may drive investment in therapy tools and staffing solutions benefiting Kelly.</li><li>93%? (Note: Correction) District optimism about the field supports continued spending on services.</li></ul>
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  <section data-block="key-facts">
    <h3>Key Facts</h3>
    <ul><li>Survey covers 255 school-based pediatric therapists.</li><li>71% caseloads grew in past two years; 24% significant.</li><li>68% spend 6+ hours weekly on documentation/IEP outside hours.</li><li>64% say complexity increased; mental-health needs rising fastest.</li><li>Publication date Aug 13, 2026; 57% believe districts not prepared.</li></ul>
  </section>

  <section data-block="trading-thesis">
    <h3>Trading Thesis</h3>
    <p>Near-term upside for KELYA as districts address therapist shortages, likely lifting demand for Kelly Pediatric Therapy within 3–6 months.</p>
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<link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://www.globenewswire.com/styles/gnw_nitf.css"></link><p>TROY, Mich., Aug.  13, 2026  (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kelly Pediatric Therapy, a division of Kelly Education, today released <a href="https://www.kellyservices.com/divisions/pediatric-therapy/lp/therapy-survey/?utm_source=other&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=2026_08_edu_b2b_pr_kptsurvey&amp;utm_content=press" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><em>The Hidden Workload Behind School-Based Pediatric Therapy</em></a>, a new white paper based on original survey data from 255 school-based pediatric therapists across the United States. The findings document a profession under growing strain. Rising caseloads and the administrative work that follows therapists home are creating sustained pressure on both therapist sustainability and student outcomes.</p>  <p>Among the key findings:</p>  <ul type="disc"><li>71% of therapists report their caseloads have grown in the past two years, with 24% describing that growth as significant.</li><li>77% of therapists have seen student progress affected by understaffing or unmanageable caseloads, with 39% saying this happens frequently or always.</li><li>68% of therapists spend six or more hours per week on documentation and IEP management outside contracted school hours.</li><li>64% say the complexity of student needs has increased over the past three years, with mental health and anxiety-related needs rising fastest.</li><li>57% of therapists believe school districts are not adequately prepared or are moving too slowly to address the coming therapist shortage.<br></br></li></ul>  <p>"School-based therapists are delivering federally mandated services inside systems that weren’t designed for clinical care," said Cheryl Haibach, Vice President and Practice Lead of Kelly Pediatric Therapy. "What the data shows is that the caseload pressure and administrative demands those therapists are absorbing have reached the students depending on those services. This is happening now, and the districts investing in therapist retention and caseload structure are going to see the difference in student outcomes and service continuity."</p>  <p>The survey included speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school psychologists, and behavioral therapists working across public, private, and charter schools in all regions of the United States. Respondents represented both direct-hire and contracted employment arrangements.</p>  <p>Eighty-seven percent of therapists say they feel at least somewhat supported by their districts, and nearly 90% remain at least somewhat optimistic about school-based practice as a long-term career. When asked what would most help them stay, therapists consistently ranked better therapy tools and spaces and manageable caseloads above compensation.</p>  <p>The full white paper is available <a href="https://www.kellyservices.com/divisions/pediatric-therapy/lp/therapy-survey/?utm_source=other&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=2026_08_edu_b2b_pr_kptsurvey&amp;utm_content=press" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>here</u></a>.</p>  <p><strong>About Kelly Pediatric Therapy</strong><br></br>Kelly Pediatric Therapy delivers transformative pediatric therapeutic services across schools, early intervention programs, and outpatient centers. Founded in 1998 as Pediatric Therapeutic Services and acquired by Kelly <strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KELYA">KELYA</a>, KELYB))</strong> in 2022, Kelly Pediatric Therapy connects children with experienced, caring therapists across occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and behavioral health. Learn more at <a href="https://www.kellyservices.com/divisions/pediatric-therapy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>kellypediatrictherapy.com</u></a> or connect with us on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/kelly-pediatric-therapy/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>LinkedIn</u></a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KellyPediatricTherapy" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>Facebook</u></a>.</p>  <p><strong>Media Contact:</strong><br></br>Danielle Nixon<br></br>Director of Public Relations, Kelly Education<br></br><a href="mailto:danielle.nixon@kellyservices.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><u>danielle.nixon@kellyservices.com</u></a> &#x7C; 816.737.8414</p> <img alt="" class="__GNW8366DE3E__IMG" src="https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/ti?nf=OTgwOTkxMiM3Nzc0NDcxIzUwMDA3MjY0MA=="></img> <br></br><img alt="" src="https://ml.globenewswire.com/media/ZjM4ZjJlYzctYTBmYi00MGMwLTg5N2MtYjFjOTAwMjQzZmQxLTUwMDA3MjY0MC0yMDI2LTA4LTEzLWVu/tiny/Kelly-Education.png" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></img>

Kelly Education's pediatric therapy unit released a white paper highlighting rising caseloads and heavy administrative work in school-based therapy. The findings show staffing pressures and increased complexity, potentially prompting districts to invest in retention and tools. The report could boost near-term demand for Kelly's pediatric-therapy services and underscore the division's growth opportunity.

News insight

New Survey of 255 School-Based Therapists Reveals Rising Caseloads and Hidden Workload Threatening Student Access to Federally Mandated Services

AI summary

Sentiment rationale

Key facts

Industry News