According to recent research, roughly 42% of educators use a mix of print and digital materials in classrooms and 25% of educators said they used mostly print. Schools aren’t just printing syllabi anymore; they are producing branded welcome kits, ADA-compliant signage, workbooks, handouts, and more. All under tight deadlines. 

Print Trends in Education 

Even as digital adoption grows, schools continue to value physical materials that are tangible, trustworthy, and inclusive. Trends shaping the return to print include: 

• Hybrid communication strategies that combine email with printed take-home materials 

• Increased emphasis on signage for wayfinding, safety and behavior reinforcement 

• Multilingual support to meet requirements and improve engagement 

• ADA compliance for equitable access to all information 

Print helps schools connect with families who may not have reliable access to digital devices or who prefer physical materials they can post at home. 

Common Print Needs for Schools in August 

Whether you’re managing a single campus or a full district, your team is likely juggling dozens of print touchpoints ahead of the first bell. These often include: 

• Enrollment packets and handbooks for families 

• Welcome signage, directional signage, and classroom posters 

• Emergency procedures and compliance-based forms 

• School maps, IDs, and orientation kits 

• Banners and clings for open houses and events 

• Multilingual communications for non-English-speaking families 

Each item plays a role in creating a positive and informed start to the school year but getting them all produced and distributed on time can be a challenge. 

Why Print Becomes a Pain Point 

Back-to-school timelines are short. Updates to schedules, policies or teacher assignments can come at the last minute, and several schools operate multiple campuses or departments, making it tough to maintain consistency. Additionally, customization is often needed by grade level, language or school identity, and internal teams don’t always have the bandwidth to manage the volume. 

For schools with limited staff and resources, manual ordering, one-off print jobs and disconnected vendors can lead to delays, errors and wasted spending. 

How Prisma Supports Education Teams 

Dokshop: Easy Ordering and Customization 

Prisma’s online storefront platform, dokshop, makes it simple for schools and districts to order print materials in one centralized place. Branded templates can be customized by location, grade or language. Built-in user permissions ensure the right people access the right files, keeping everything organized and consistent. 

Speed and Scalability 

Whether you’re printing 500 posters or 50,000 enrollment packets, Prisma can scale up to your needs. Our print-on-demand capabilities reduce the need for excess inventory, and our kitting and fulfillment services make it easy to get complete orientation kits to every campus or classroom. 

We meet your deadlines without sacrificing quality. 

Compliance and Accessibility 

Our team understands the importance of ADA compliance and language access in education. We offer workflows that support ADA-compliant signage and communications in formats like large print or color contrast. For schools with multilingual populations, we provide translation and print services across a wide range of languages. 

Data-Driven Print Campaigns 

Do you need to send a personalized mailer to every household in your district? We can help with that, too. Our mail integration with USPS and address databases enables targeted, cost-effective direct mail ideal for enrollment reminders, school calendars or family outreach. 

Back to School, Without the Backlog 

Getting ready for the first day doesn’t have to mean late nights, last-minute changes, or inconsistent materials. Prisma helps educational institutions prepare with confidence by providing print solutions that are fast, flexible and fully supported. Whether you need thousands of enrollment packets, ADA signage or a customized ordering platform for your district, we’re ready to help. 

Ready to get print-ready before the bell rings? Learn how Prisma can support your school’s communications this fall.