National PTA Reflections Program

The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Georgia PTA cultural arts competition. Since 1969, over 10 million students across the nation have taken part in this popular PTA program.

The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for students, parents, schools and communities is unmatched with the majority of Georgia PTAs participating in the program at all PTA levels.

That’s why the Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to:

• Unleash their creative talents and be inspired
• Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
• Experience the joy and fun of making art
• Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
• Receive positive recognition for their original works of art

The theme for the 2026-2027 program year is "What My Culture Means to Me"

Reflections Submissions

Student Participation

The Reflections program is open to all students regardless or age or ability who attend a school in Georgia that has a PTA/PTSA that is in Good Standing with Georgia PTA. The National PTA Accessible Arts Division is an option created for students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) or Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Section 504. To participate, students create an original work of art based on an annual theme. This year’s theme is, “What My Culture Means to Me”. Artwork may be submitted in one or more of the following categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music, photography, and visual arts. Students submit their artwork along with a student entry form to their local PTA/PTSA for review and judging by the designated deadline date. Winning entries have the potential to advance from local through council, state, and to National PTA for final judging.

Local Units

• Register your participation with National PTA. There isn’t a separate registration for Georgia PTA. Register here.
• Identify Reflections chair/recruit committee members and volunteer judges.
• Obtain training.
• Establish deadline for student submissions. Establish 4-6 weeks from your council deadline.
• Promote program. Distribute rules, forms, and provide contact information.
• Collect and review entries. Incomplete or non-legible entries may be returned for correction(s) if time permits.
• Label entries. Art Entry Category-First Initial.Last Name-Grade/Entry Form-Category-First Initial.Last Name-Grade. LI (Literature), VA (Visual Arts), PH (Photography), MU (Music), DC (Dance), FP (Film Production).
• Conduct judging.
• Advance winners to council via published platform by council’s designated deadline date. Upload local unit participation form, winners’ log, students’ entry forms, artwork, and winners’ log. There are three separate tabbed sheets to the Winners’ Log spreadsheet. Complete the information on each tab: Local PTA Information, Winners List, and Accessible Arts Winners. Maintain a copy of all advancing entries.
• Maintain access to select physical entries for local, council, and state recognition ceremonies.
• Distribute results of contest outcome along with celebration information to families, school, and community. In addition, thank your volunteers for their time and contributions.
• Evaluate program, gather and discuss feedback, adjust plan accordingly for next year.

Councils

• Register your participation with National PTA. There isn’t a separate registration for Georgia PTA. Register here.
• Identify Reflections chair/recruit committee members and volunteer judges.
• Obtain training.
• Promote program.
• Reach out to local units. Introduce yourself, provide contact information.
• Establish and communicate council’s deadline, submission platform, and any council specific requirements.
• Verify local units are in Good Standing, review submissions, and have them judged.
• First and second place entries of eligible units will be advanced to Georgia PTA utilizing link received from the Reflections chair. Upload all local unit participation forms along with consolidated council participation form, winners’ log, students’ entry forms and artwork. Maintain a copy of all advancing entries.
• Distribute results of contest outcome along with celebration information to families, school, and community. In addition, thank your volunteers for their time and contributions.
• Evaluate program, gather and discuss feedback, adjust plan accordingly for next year.

Judging

All student entries are judged in three areas:

• Interpretation: How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on artwork submitted. 
• Creativity: How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation. 
• Technique: The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.

Of the three areas, judges strongly consider how well a student’s interpretation of the theme is incorporated within their art and the artist statement from their entry form during judging. It accounts for 40% of a students score whereas creativity and technique each account for 30%.

A committee member will brief judges on their responsibilities prior to commencing the judging process. A scoring rubric and scoresheet will be provided. Upon completion of the process, scores are tallied and winners identified.

Reflections Theme Search Contest

(Currently Suspended pending restructuring.)

National PTA host the Reflections Theme Search Contest to select one student theme to inspire student artist as they participate in future PTA Reflections programs.

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program

Each year, National PTA through this grant opportunity awards two local PTAs funds to administer innovative, student-centered programs that increase access to high quality arts learning experiences and provide new pathways for at-risk and underserved students to participate in arts education experiences, including National PTA’s Reflections program. If selected, PTAs/PTSAs must participate or have participated in the current year's Reflections program in addition to meeting the general requirements for National PTA grants. National PTA Grant & Award Oppotunities will open September 15, 2026.

Why Is Student Recognition Important?

Celebrating student learning provides an opportunity for schools and families to connect with each other and to their community. When PTAs and schools celebrate the arts together, all families feel welcomed into the school and are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s learning. Research shows positive recognition and engaged families attribute to higher rates of student success.

Celebration events also serve as a platform for communicating the importance of arts education in your school. Ensure school leaders, policy makers and community leaders recognize the value of learning through the arts.

Judging Artwork

After you collect your artwork, it is time for judging. To aid the judges, provide each judge with the:

Judging Guidelines

Judges Score Card

Submitting to Council/State:

Local Unit Reflections Chairs: As you prepare your student entries to move forward from local unit to council or state level judging, we have a 5 step process we would like for you to follow.

1. Ensure your local unit is in good standing, advancing entries will not be accepted if this criteria has not been met to date.
2. Complete the Local Unit Participation Form
3. Complete the Winners Log. Please note that there are three tabs in the Winners Log Excel Spreadsheet. Please be sure to completely fill out the information on all three tabs (Local PTA Information, Winners List, Special Artist Winners)
4. Register your local unit with National PTA. We do not require Local Units to input their student entries into the online database, however, local units AND Councils need to create an account and register their schools in the online system.
5. Enter all advancing entries into the National PTA portal.

Theme Search Contest

The search is on for the 2025-26 National PTA Reflections program theme! The student who submits the winning entry will receive $100, and his or her theme will be announced at the National PTA Convention and Exhibition in June 2024.

Please review the past themes listed on the form linked below. Repeat themes will not be considered.

Participation in the Reflections Program theme search is optional.

Nov. 1st – Theme entries due to Georgia PTA
Dec. 15th – Georgia PTA announces Virginia’s winning theme entry
May. 2023 – National PTA announces winning theme (see past themes)

Click here to enter the Theme Search!

Past & Future Reflections Arts Contests

• 2026-2027: Reflections Theme: What My Culture Means to Me
• 2025-2026: Reflections Theme: I Belong
• 2024-2025 Reflections Theme: Accepting Imperfection
• 2023-2024: Reflections Theme: I am Hopeful Because…
• Georgia PTA 2022-2023 Student Award Winners (Show Your Voice) | National PTA Virtual Exhibit

Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program

Is your PTA planning a creative Arts Program for students? Each year, National PTA provides up to $1,000 in matching funds for PTA sponsored Arts Programs facilitating sustained involvement in the arts that target populations of at-risk students. Information for Mary Lou Anderson is at the bottom of the page via this link.

Formulario de búsqueda temática en Español

¡Ha comenzado la búsqueda del tema para el Programa National PTA Reflections® 2024-2025! El alumno que entregue la entrada ganadora recibirá $100, y su tema será anunciado en la Convención y Exposición Nacional de la PTA en junio de 2023.

Por favor revise los temas pasados que aparecen en el formulario enlazado abajo. No se considerarán temas repetidos. Utilice este formulario para entregar las ideas para el tema. Sólo se considerarán los formularios firmados originales.

La participación en la búsqueda de temas del programa Reflections es opcional.

Fecha límite del estado para 2024-2025 de búsqueda del tema: 11 Noviembre 2022