Summer is the perfect time for schools to reevaluate their print environment before the next academic year begins.

Educational institutions face unique printing challenges.

High-volume usage.
Multiple departments.
Thousands of users.
Constant demand for supplies and support.

From administrative offices and libraries to classrooms and student labs, printing remains a necessary part of day-to-day operations in many schools and universities. But without the right systems in place, those printing costs can quickly become difficult to manage.

The good news is that reducing paper waste and improving efficiency does not require limiting productivity. Often, it starts with gaining better visibility into how printing is happening across your organization.

 

Tracking Print Usage Creates Better Visibility

One of the most effective ways to reduce paper waste in schools is by tracking print usage by department, user, or device.

Modern education printing solutions allow schools to:

  • Monitor print volume by user
  • Track color versus black-and-white usage
  • Set printing permissions by department
  • Identify wasteful printing habits

This type of visibility helps schools make informed decisions instead of guessing where costs are coming from.

For example, many schools discover that defaulting devices to black-and-white printing alone significantly reduces supply expenses over time. Tracking print usage in education environments also creates accountability without requiring administrators to micromanage staff or students.

 

Cost Recovery Solutions for Schools and Universities

In some educational environments, cost recovery tools can also play an important role.

Libraries, public-use computer labs, and university print centers often benefit from systems that allow organizations to:

  • Set print quotas
  • Charge for excess printing
  • Restrict color printing access
  • Reduce abandoned print jobs

These tools help control printing behavior while keeping resources available to students and faculty who genuinely need them. The goal is not to eliminate printing. It is to create a more sustainable and manageable print environment.

 

Managed Print Services for School Districts

Many educational organizations are also turning to Managed Print Services (MPS) to simplify support and reduce costs.

Managed print services for school districts can help:

  • Standardize devices across buildings
  • Simplify toner inventory
  • Improve service response times
  • Reduce the burden on internal IT teams
  • Lower overall printing costs

Instead of managing dozens of unrelated devices and supply orders, schools gain a more centralized and predictable system. For districts already balancing limited budgets and growing technology demands, that operational relief can make a major difference.

 

Summer Is the Ideal Time to Evaluate Your Print Environment

As the school year winds down, summer creates a valuable opportunity to reassess your equipment, workflows, and printing policies before the next academic cycle begins.

That might include:

  • Evaluating outdated devices
  • Reviewing print usage data
  • Consolidating equipment
  • Implementing tracking tools
  • Updating print policies

Making these changes during the summer helps ensure a smoother transition into the fall semester.

 

Let’s Build a Smarter Printing Strategy for Your School

The best printing setup for schools and universities is not one-size-fits-all.

Every institution has different workflows, users, and priorities. That is why BDT works directly with education clients to build customized solutions designed around their environment.

If your school or university is looking to reduce printing costs, improve visibility, or simplify print management, we are here to help.

Let’s create a school printing plan that supports your staff, students, and budget.