State PTA Reflections Library

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Reflections Arts Program

Everything You Need to Run Your State's PTA Reflections Program

Welcome to the State PTA Reflections Library, the hidden resource page for state PTA Reflections leaders who are hosting National PTA's Reflections program.

As a state-run program, State PTA Reflections leaders are expected to develop and implement the Reflections program for Local, District, Region and Council PTAs. For specific roles and responsibilities, download the State PTA Leader's Guide to Reflections.

On this page, you will find template program materials for your state's Reflections program, training materials, information on our State Reflections Network, a calendar with important dates and links to resources from our arts partners.

**The resources on this page are meant for state-level use only, for the design and implementation of their state PTA's Reflections program.**

The 2024-2025 Reflections theme is "Accepting Imperfection"

Accepting Imperfection

 

Message Board

Take a quick look at these important updates and reminders!

 

Launching the 2024-2025 Reflections Program!

Each State PTA Reflections Chairs is responsible for the overall statewide implementation of Reflections, including promoting and sharing out new program materials for each cycle. As your state’s liaison to National PTA, will provide the information and training necessary for your local and district/region/council PTAs to successfully implement and promote Reflections. 

Use a state Reflections webpage to share program materials.

It is highly recommended that your state PTA use a Reflections webpage to house and share program materials and relevant details, including an overview of the program and levels of competition, contact information for questions and your program deadlines. Use the State Reflections Leader Calendar to help you develop your Reflections program timeline.

In the below Program Launch section, find materials and recommendations provided by National PTA to update your state page, including state and unit training materials, required student entry forms and helpful promotional items. We recommend providing the following resources, customized as necessary for your state PTA, all of which are available exclusively in the State Reflections Library:

  • Student Entry Packet: This includes the Reflections Official Rules for Participation and abridged category/division-specific guidelines. 
  • Category/Division Guidelines: These guidelines provide thorough description of requirements and rules for each arts category and the Accessible Arts division. 

State Reflections Webpage Map
All participants and volunteers who reach out to National PTA are directed to their state PTA with this tool. Verify that your state's Reflections webpage is correctly linked and updated for the new program. Email Reflections@PTA.org with any questions or adjustments.


Check it out!

Learn what is new for the 2024-2025 Reflections program.

Reflections is regularly assessed, updated and enhanced to ensure the program is meeting our goal of providing all students opportunities for recognition and access to the arts. The "Accepting Imperfection" program materials have been updated and State PTA Reflections Chairs will need to share the updated program materials.

The new materials can be found in the Launch Your Program section below. Pay close attention to providing the most updated version of the Student Entry Packet, Student Entry Form and the the individual arts category guidelines.

As a reminder, Chairs can customize student eligibility and category requirements outlined in the program materials in the ways work best for their state. However, qualified submissions advancing to the national level must also meet National PTA's rules for participation. 

New Division Title

Moving forward, the Special Artist division will be referred to as the Accessible Arts division. This change is in response to concern around the term “special," based on feedback gathered from participants, volunteers and partner non-profit organizations and recognizes the importance of evolving how we talk about disability to align with and be more inclusive of people with disabilities. 

The division-specific guidelines and student entry forms include updated language and the new title. However, the competition process and structure of the division was not changed. 

Stay tuned! This enhancement is part of larger, forthcoming updates to the division that will debut in the future. 


Clarified and Updated Guidelines

Materials were updated to provide consistent and clearer guidance around the use of technology and copyright materials in entries:

  • Use of Copyright Materials: Guidelines were clarified to explain that, while permitted in certain categories, copyrighted material in an entry must be incidental and/or is a smaller element of a whole and used to create a completely new and different work of art.
  • Use of Technology: Guidelines were clarified to emphasize that digital technology may not provide the primary design and/or concept for an entry and to indicate that entrants must provide a brief description how they used the technology/software, including any generative elements (e.g., algorithmic techniques, artificial intelligence). 

The category-specific guidelines and student entry packet/form reflect these changes. In addition, the category-specific guidelines also reflect language adjustments, especially the following:

  • Visual Arts: Category-specific guidelines now specify "digital art and graphics (drawings/paintings/ illustration)," rather than "computer-generated images."
  • Literature: Category-specific guidelines now specify dictation is permissible based on the student being able, rather than their age.
 

Promote Registration in Your State!

Each year, registration helps National PTA show the reach and impact of Reflections. We highly encourage Reflections participants and PTAs of all levels to register their yearly participation in the program.

To register your state's participation in Reflections and confirm your role as a State Reflections Chair, complete this form. As a state-run program, your registration is especially important to us but we encourage you to promote registration to PTAs of all levels in your state! Direct participants and PTAs in your state to PTA.org/Reflections to register.

Use registration data to promote the "Accepting Imperfection" program!

State Reflections Leaders can email Reflections@PTA.org to request complete registration reports that outline valuable data, like demographics, location and contact information. Promote registration at PTA.org/Reflections to all levels of PTA and participants and use the responses to 

  • plan promotional and membership campaigns around Reflections
  • highlight useful arts education information and opportunities in your state
  • connect with schools, students and/or teachers that may be interested in joining or becoming a PTA
  • understand the reach and impact of Reflections in your state to better promote the program to PTAs and partners

Follow this link to the general running registration report (updated regularly) to find the PTA units and potential participants in your state that are interested in Reflections.

Registration and Data Reports

Registration data informs our annual Reflections Data Reports, which deep dive into program outcomes and highlight the impact of Reflections! 

 

Launch and Manage Your State PTA Reflections Program

Update Your State PTA Reflections Webpage

Use your State PTA Reflections webpage to widely share Reflections program materials and information with PTA units and participants in your state. Based on input and questions from the field, we highly recommend including the following:

  • Participation information, including due dates for each level of PTA in your state and how students and PTA units can participate.

  • Contact information, especially where to direct Reflections-specific questions.

  • Category rules and guidelines, including any state-specific rules. As a state Reflections leader, you may adjust the guidelines or you may choose to directly post the guidelines provided by National PTA.

  • Program overview, including a description of the levels of your state competition.

  • How to submit entries, including the where to submit artwork (e.g., local, D/C/R or state PTA) and the required format of submissions (e.g., digital or physical).

  • Description of the review criteria to inform students and volunteers on the importance of originality and the interpretation of the theme.

Use Reflections as a membership tool! 

Encourage PTAs at all levels to use Reflections to promote their membership campaigns. PTAs can download and customize the Grow Your PTA with Reflections resources, to invite their school and community to become members and support the PTA/PTSA in offering Reflections! 

Include details about membership and joining PTA in your celebrations. Reflections celebrations and exhibits are a great way to highlight the impact and benefit of joining PTA. To make joining PTA easy, all  Reflections celebrations should include membership FAQs, forms and envelopes and a way to collect responses.

Engage students and student artwork in recruitment efforts: We all benefit from the arts in our community but students know the benefits of Reflections most. Recruit current or past student artists to share how Reflections through their PTA has benefited them as artists.

Program Resources

Use these resources to better understand the program and host a fantastic State PTA Reflections Program: 

Use these PTA Leader resources to train and support PTAs of all levels in implementing their Reflections programs: 

All students must submit a signed entry form along with their artwork. Please note that National PTA will accept typed signatures so digital platforms may be used for entry collection. 

As the Reflections program is largely managed on the state-level, State Reflections Chairs may adjust the guidelines to best support your state’s program. National PTA does not publicly share the following Reflections guidelines and we recommend posting either your state-specific rules or the following guidelines provided by National PTA on your state's Reflections webpage. All entries advancing to the national level for review must follow the rules for their specific arts category and division. 
Promotional Materials

Use the available promotional materials to help inspire creativity and participation among PTAs and student artists in your state. And follow Reflections on National PTA's online magazine, "Our Children," and YouTube Channel for more promotional blogs and videos to share. 

Printable Promotional Material
Social Media Graphics
Videos
Logos and Category Images/Icons
Student Entry Portal

The Student Entry Portal is closed and will open for the 2024-2025 program later this year. You are still able to access your account and previous applications. Email Reflections@PTA.org with questions or requests.

The Reflections Student Entry Portal is a tool designed for State PTA’s to submit student entries to the national level. State PTAs must use the National PTA Reflections Student Entry Portal to submit their winning entries to the national level for review. However, to collect or manage entries on the Local, District, Council and State levels, State PTAs may use whatever platform works best for their Reflections program. 

Student Entry Portal Resources
National PTA provides the following guides to support state PTA's in utilizing the Student Entry Portal for advancing entries to the national level for review. Please familiarize yourself with the platform and email your questions to Reflections@PTA.org. 
A recorded training video for leaders on the Local, Council, District and/or Region level PTA units is available by request to Reflections@PTA.org. The recording covers the information outlined in the Local Leader Student Entry Portal Directions. 

Secure Your Student Entry Portal Permissions
Ensure your account information and permissions are accurate in the Student Entry Portal by completing the State Network Enrollment Form. Should you have concerns about your account or would like to request additional individuals be added to your account, please email Reflections@PTA.org.
Annual Theme Search Contest

Every year, National PTA hosts our annual Reflections Theme Search Contest to select one student theme to inspire student artists as they participate in the national Reflections program. Themes are selected two years in advance. Students can participate in the Reflections Theme Search Contest according to the process and guidelines outlined by their State PTA Reflections Program.

Launch Your State's Theme Search Contest 
State PTAs may submit up to five student-created themes to National PTA for review and consideration. You may collect student entries in whatever manner best serves your PTA but all advancing submissions must include the information in National PTA's Theme Search Entry Form. Submissions are due Dec. 1 by 11:59 p.m. PST. 


Use these resources to launch your call for student submissions:

New this year, National PTA also provides template digital surveys in Google Forms that your PTA may copy and deploy to your community. Please follow this link to find directions for accessing and copying the survey options. It is highly important you create a copy of the survey to ensure your PTA maintains ownership of the survey and survey responses. 

Use these graphics to promote your state's Theme Search Contest: 

Theme Search Winners

One winning student's theme is selected by a team of National PTA volunteers based on originality and creativity. The winning student is awarded $100 and national recognition. Check out the past 50+ years of winning themes – all submitted by students – here.

Special thanks and congratulations, once again, to our previous Theme Search Contest winners and all of the State PTAs who participated in the Theme Search Contest!

  • Paige Opaska, from Barbara Bush Middle School PTA in Texas, submitted the winning theme, Accepting Imperfection, that will inspire students during the 2024-2025 program submission. See Paige's blog feature here.
  • The most recent winner of the annual contest is Ben Morgan from Lewis and Clark Middle School PTSA in Idaho! Ben’s submission, I Belong! will be the 2025-2026 Reflections theme. Learn more about Ben and the inspiration behind the theme.

 

State Reflections Network 

Connect with National PTA and fellow State Reflections leaders by joining our growing State Reflections Network!
The State Reflections Network provides members shared learning opportunities and the latest updates and reminders from National PTA. Members also gain exclusive access to the State Network BAND, the Student Entry Portal and more! 

Complete the State Network Enrollment Form and your state PTA's Reflections registration all at once! To reduce the number of forms Chairs are asked to complete, we have combined registration and enrollment in the State Network. 
 
Please refer to this running list of State Reflections Chairs to be sure you are included in the Network and verify if you are registered with National PTA. Even if you have completed the form before, please verify your information and role in the Network by completing the form once more.  
 


Enroll in the Network

State Reflections Network BAND

As State Chairs, are invited to join our exclusive State Reflections Network BAND, a space for State PTA Reflections Chairs to ask questions, share tips, post photos, videos and more. 

 Join and start collaborating today!

Newsletters and Trainings


The State Reflections Network provides members shared learning opportunities and the latest updates and reminders from National PTA. Use this section to find upcoming and past Reflections Newsletters and Reflections Chat sessions.

Reflections Chats and Lessons
Reflections Lessons 

These short, recorded video lessons provide a more in-depth look at certain aspects of managing the Reflections program. 

Reflections Chats

Members of our State Reflections Network are encouraged to join and/or review the recordings of our trainings for helpful information and the opportunity to network with fellow state-level Reflections leaders. For these sessions, we encourage you to join via computer and use video, if able, to better communicate and connect.

Network Newsletters
State Reflections Network Newsletters and Reminders

Throughout the program, we will email e-newsletters with program reminders, information and invitations for optional trainings and collaborations to help participating State Reflections Chairs manage their state-wide programs. 




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