New Survey of 255 School-Based Therapists Reveals Rising Caseloads and Hidden Workload Threatening Student Access to Federally Mandated Services
Kelly Pediatric Therapy, a division of Kelly Education (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB), released a white paper, The Hidden Workload Behind School-Based Pediatric Therapy, based on a survey of 255 school-based pediatric therapists across the United States.
Sentiment and the balance of points
Rhea-AI Sentiment reads the wording of the document, how positive or negative its language is on a 1 to 5 scale. The balance of points shown with the takes weighs what the document actually discloses, so the two can disagree, for example when a trial that missed its main goal is described in upbeat language.
Rhea-AI Summary
Kelly Pediatric Therapy, a division of Kelly Education (NASDAQ: KELYA, KELYB), released a white paper, The Hidden Workload Behind School-Based Pediatric Therapy, based on a survey of 255 school-based pediatric therapists across the United States.
The survey highlights rising caseloads, understaffing and growing administrative work. 71% of therapists report caseload growth in the past two years, and 77% say student progress has been affected by understaffing or unmanageable caseloads. 68% spend six or more hours weekly on documentation and IEPs outside contracted hours, while 64% see increasing complexity in student needs, especially mental health and anxiety. Despite this, 87% feel at least somewhat supported by districts and nearly 90% remain somewhat optimistic about school-based practice as a long-term career.
Details
News Market Reaction – KELYA
On Aug 13, the day this news came out, KELYA closed 5.57% above the previous close. Our momentum scanner recorded 20 alerts for this stock that day.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Aug 13 session.
Key Figures
- Survey Sample
- 255 therapists
- School-based pediatric therapy survey
- Caseload Growth
- 71%
- Therapists reporting growth in the past two years
- Significant Caseload Growth
- 24%
- Therapists describing caseload growth as significant
- Student Progress Impact
- 77%
- Therapists reporting effects from understaffing or unmanageable caseloads
- Frequent Progress Impact
- 39%
- Therapists saying student progress impact happens frequently or always
- Administrative Workload
- 68%
- Therapists spending six or more hours weekly outside contracted hours
- Complexity of Student Needs
- 64%
- Therapists reporting increased complexity over the past three years
- District Preparedness
- 57%
- Therapists reporting districts are inadequately prepared or moving too slowly
Historical Context
-
Engineering division recognition by Everest Group preceded a 0.03% 24-hour reaction.
-
Second-quarter results included a raised 2026 revenue outlook and modest margin improvement expectation.
-
RPO leadership recognition and international operating details preceded a 1.15% 24-hour reaction.
-
Scheduled second-quarter earnings release and webcast preceded a negative 2.21% 24-hour reaction.
-
Appointment of chief product and technology officer preceded a negative 0.92% 24-hour reaction.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
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 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.
Among the key findings:
71% of therapists report their caseloads have grown in the past two years, with24% describing that growth as significant.77% of therapists have seen student progress affected by understaffing or unmanageable caseloads, with39% saying this happens frequently or always.68% of therapists spend six or more hours per week on documentation and IEP management outside contracted school hours.64% say the complexity of student needs has increased over the past three years, with mental health and anxiety-related needs rising fastest.57% of therapists believe school districts are not adequately prepared or are moving too slowly to address the coming therapist shortage.
“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.”
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.
Eighty-seven percent of therapists say they feel at least somewhat supported by their districts, and nearly
The full white paper is available here.
About Kelly Pediatric Therapy
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 (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB) 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 kellypediatrictherapy.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Media Contact:
Danielle Nixon
Director of Public Relations, Kelly Education
danielle.nixon@kellyservices.com | 816.737.8414
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.