As July rolls around, educators and administrators across K-12 and higher education are deep into preparation mode for the upcoming academic year. From student registration packets to course syllabi, school directories to promotional materials, summer is a critical window for aligning print infrastructure and processes. 

But too often, poor print planning can lead to costly bottlenecks, missed deadlines, and operational inefficiencies that impact the first weeks of school. Whether you're managing an in-plant print shop or coordinating with an outside vendor, here are six common back-to-school print mistakes to avoid — and how to get ahead of them. 

For most schools, summer also means that the preparation season is in full swing! Whether you're running summer programs or laying the groundwork for the new academic year, their functional needs often overlap. After all, both involve significant faculty preparation and active student learning.

No matter when your fiscal year begins, periodic budget reviews are a key part of ensuring your government agency stays on track financially. Around the halfway point of your budget cycle, it's important to assess how well funds are holding up—and whether key operational processes like printing are contributing to unnecessary costs.

The year is already halfway through, making it the perfect time for reflection. For many businesses, mid-year is a strategic opportunity to map out the next six months as well as re-evaluate the progress of goals and initiatives set in the first quarter. For health institutions, this proactive approach is just as vital. 

As fiscal year-end reporting ramps up, so does the pressure to deliver polished, accurate, and timely documents. But printing inefficiencies, poor document workflows, and hardware hiccups can slow everything down. 

As technology continues transforming the business landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is making bold moves in unexpected places—including printing. From predictive maintenance to hyper-personalization, AI-powered print solutions are reshaping how we think about efficiency, quality, and customer engagement.

There’s a growing misconception that printing is inherently unsustainable. You’ve probably seen the phrase “Please consider the environment before printing” at the bottom of countless emails. But the truth is more nuanced—and more hopeful.

Paper isn’t the enemy. It’s one of the most renewable, recyclable resources we use daily. Responsible forestry, sustainable inks, and smarter energy use have all transformed the print world into something far greener than most people realize. At SumnerOne, we believe sustainability isn’t about printing less—it’s about printing smarter.

Here are five sustainable printing practices that help you reduce your footprint without compromising your workflow—or falling for outdated myths.