Reflections Art Program

Five decades. Ten million students. And you! 

National PTA’s Reflections program provides opportunities for recognition and access to the arts which boost student confidence and success in the arts and in life.

Each year, over 300,000 students in Pre-K through Grade 12 create original works of art in response to a student-selected theme. This 50+ year-old program helps them explore their own thoughts, feelings and ideas, develop artistic literacy, increase confidence and find a love for learning that will help them become more successful in school and in life.

Student winners from the local level have the opportunity to move up through their district, region, council and state PTA programs to the national level.

National Reflections winners are announced in May and celebrated throughout the following year.

Students can submit original work in the following categories.

• Dance
• Choreography
• Literature
• Photography
• Film Production
• Music Composition
• Visual Arts

Submission deadline for 2025-2026: extended to October 9, 2026

All entries can be submitted online here.  If your submission is too large to send or is not in digital format, please email to reflections@sphsptsa.net and the PTSA will contact you to arrange your submission. Sizes and weights of submissions limited to 24″ X 30″ maximum and less than 40 lbs.

Please click here for tips and tools to create your entry.

Click here for tips and tools  in each division and category to craft your:

• Entry
• Title
• Artist Statement

Click here to see the scoring rubric and tips for using the viewing criteria to guide your creative process. Entries are scored on their

1. Interpretation of theme
2. Creativity
3. Technical Skill

Artworks are submitted first to school-level PTAs, where they are first recognized, celebrated and judged by five grade-level divisions, the Special Artists division celebrates student artists with special needs. School PTAs then choose a selection of entries to be judged by local PTA units, which are then sent on to councils and then districts for consideration. The final artworks submitted to California State PTA by districts are then considered for Outstanding Interpretation, Awards of Excellence or Awards of Merit. Outstanding Interpretation and Award of Excellence entries then go on to represent California in the final National PTA judging round.

State-level Outstanding Interpretation honorees receive:

State-level Award of Excellence honorees receive:

State-level Award of Merit honorees receive:

National-level Outstanding Interpretation honorees are recognized at the National PTA Convention, plus their artwork, along with any National Award of Excellence and Merit winners, are featured in Reflections’ popular traveling national exhibit. See the winners.

Each year, students are invited to submit themes for the annual Reflections Art Program that will inspire young artists to create original works.

Click here for more information and to see the 2024-25 California finalists who were sent to National PTA for judging.