Official Rules
Use the arts to share your personal Reflections on this year's theme: I Am Hopeful Because...
By submitting an artwork to the "National PTA Reflections Program," entrants accept and agree to be bound by the official rules for participation as well as the entry requirements for their specific arts category and division. Additional state program requirements may apply. Any violation of these rules may, at PTA's discretion, result in disqualification. All decisions of the reviewers regarding this program are final and binding in all respects. (The PTA referred to in these rules include all PTAs reviewing the submission.)
Eligibility
Students must participate through a local PTA/PTSA. Each student’s eligibility is determined by the state and local PTS/PTSA. A student may develop an entry inside or outside of school.
Arts categories
There are six art categories – dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Students may enter the National PTA Reflections Program in one or more art categories. See each arts category rules for additional entry requirements.
Grade divisions
Students may enter the appropriate division for the grade (primary: preschool-grade 2; intermediate: grades 3-5; middle school: grades 6-8; high school: grades 9-12; Special Artist: All grades welcome). The Special Artist Division welcomes students from all grades and abilities and offers non-artistic accommodations (e.g. adaptive technology; transcribing; holding a camera) for students to participate fully in PTA Reflections. Assistants must refrain from being involved in the artistic process (e.g. developing an artist statement, choreography, music lyrics, storyboards, etc. Student recognition and awards are announced as part of the Special Artist Division.
How to enter
Entrants must submit their artwork and student entry form to their local PTA/PTSA program according to local and state PTA procedures. Entrants must follow requirements and instructions specific to each arts category and division. Contact local PTA programs for deadlines and additional information.
Entry requirements
All participants must also follow arts category and if applicable, Special Artist Division rules. Only new pieces of artwork inspired by the current year's theme may be submitted. Each entry must be the original work of one student only. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work. Because the program is designed to encourage and recognize each student's individual creativity, help from an adult or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Special Artist Division. Other individuals may appear in or perform a student's work, but the work itself must be the creative product of one student only. Only one student may be recognized as the award recipient for each entry. See the specific arts category rules and special artist division rules for details. Each entry must contain a title and all entries must include an artist statement. The artist statement communicates what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and the content of the work. The statement must include at least 10 words and not exceed 100 words. Use of copyrighted material is prohibited except for background music in dance choreography and film production entries. If used in choreography and film production entries, background music must be cited on the entry form. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. Use of PowerPoint templates is prohibited.
Finalist selection and notification
Entries are reviewed at local, regional, state, and national levels. Each PTA determines its own reviewers for the program. Entries will be reviewed primarily on h ow well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, their originality, and creativity. The National PTA Reflections program makes no restrictions on content or subject matter in artwork submitted by the local, region, or state levels. National PTA reserves the right to use its sole discretion in selecting the submissions to be recognized that the national level. Under no condition may parents or students contact a reviewer to dispute the status/score of any entry. Each PTA in its sole discretion will select finalists for exhibition and provide awards/prizes. Awards are announced per local and state procedures. National awards and events are announced May 1 at PTA.org/Reflections.
Ownership and license
Ownership in any submission shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry into this program constitutes entrant's irrevocable permission and consent that PTA may display, copy, reproduce, enhance, print, sublicense, publish, distribute, and create derivative works for PTA purposes. PTA is not responsible for lost or damaged entries. Submission of entry into the PTA Reflections program constitutes acceptance of all rules and conditions.
Participating entities
This program is administered by the National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and PTA affiliates. Parent groups not affiliated with National PTA are not eligible to sponsor this program.
