Theme for 2026-27 is

“What My Culture Means to Me”

Local School PTA winners must be submitted to PTACHC by DECEMBER 4th, 2026

Reflections is a Nationwide PTA program that is a creative and fun way for all students to engage in the arts. There are 6 categories: film, dance, musical composition, photography, visual arts and literature; with 4 age groups for each category: K-2(Primary), 3-5(Intermediate), 6-8 (Middle) and 9-12 (Senior).

Students submit artwork to their local PTA. Works are judged at the local PTA level and the top three winning entries in each category and age group advance to the Council level by December 4th, 2026. Students must adhere to participation rules, as well as rules for their specific arts area.

The Reflections Chairperson finds the judges in the community and gets the kids excited through by talking to the teachers about integrating it into their school’s curriculum. Then you watch/listen in amazement as these talented youth bring you wonderful works of art!

From the Council level, the top three winners proceed to the state level. The top winners at the state level in each category and age group proceed to the National PTA.

Each level of judging for the Reflections Program follows guidelines that include:

Sending your PTA Reflections Chair’s contact information to PTA Council via email (reflections@ptachc.org)
Establishing a timeline for your PTA’s Reflection Program
Remember: Individual school PTAs must submit their school’s winners to PTACHC by December 4th, 2026. Allow yourself enough time to collect and judge winners. PTACHC will submit county-level winners to the State (Free State PTA) in January 2027).
Promoting the program to your community
Distributing the rules, deadlines, and entry forms to participants
Collecting the student’s entries for judging
Organizing and hosting the judging
Celebrating the winners
Submitting winning artwork entries and required forms to the Council level
Please note: Only PTA’s in good standing may host the Reflections Program

For more information about the PTA Council of Howard County program please contact the Reflections Chair at: reflections@ptachc.org.

Posters

8.5×11 Poster – Color (English | en español), Printer Safe (English | en español)

11×17 Poster – Color (English | en español), Printer Safe (English | en español)

Graphics

1080×1080 Social Media Graphic (English | en español)

Theme Text Icon (English | en español)

Zoom Background (English | en español)

Newsletters/Web Ads (200×200 px) (English | en español)

Email Signature (English)

Logos and Category Images/Icons

Reflections Logo

Dance Choreography (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Film Production (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Literature (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Music Composition (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Photography (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Visual Arts (26-27 Icon | Standard)

Leadership Resources

PTA Leader Program Checklist (English | en español)

Fillable Student Entry Form (English | en español)

Reflections Review Packet (English | en español)

Template Student Certificate (English)

Program Assessment Tool (English | en español)

Thank You Letter for Volunteers (English | en español)

Reflections Celebration Guide (English | en español)

SMARTIE Goals and Project Plan (English | en español)

Google Form Template for Submissions:

2026-2027 Program Updates:

Entry Form: Yes/No Accessible Arts Question A “no” option was added to opt-in question for the Accessible Arts division. This aims to further clarify the division’s purpose for participants.

Film Production Clarifications: Clarifying language was added to the Film Production guidelines regarding the use of digital slide presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) and original footage. “All entries must include original student footage/media/material. Digital slide presentations (PowerPoint) are not allowed.”

Leader Guides and Checklists: Basic updates and enhancements were made to the digital guides and checklists for PTA Leaders and State Leaders to improve accessibility and relevance for leaders.

On Hiatus

National Theme Search Contest: There will be no Theme Search Contest during the 2026-2027 program cycle. During the hiatus, National PTA will develop an updated contest structure and process to improve overall efficiency and contest participation.

Changes/Updates From 2025-2026 from Free State PTA:

Accessible Arts: Moving forward, the Special Artist division will continue to 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, recognizing 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.
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.
  - Special note for Free State PTA entrants: Submissions may not be created using artificial intelligence software (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E rotor, hotpot AI, deep AI, Craiyon, nightcafe, or other text-to-art software tools) to generate any part of the content or composition. Content generation, including composition and arrangement, must be the result of student exercise of skills and tools. This does not preclude the use of image painting and editing software such as photoshop, gimp, paint or similar software tools for any entries.
- Students can participate in the following divisions: primary (pre-K–grade 2), intermediate (grades 3–5), middle school (grades 6–8), high school (grades 9–12), or accessible arts (all grades) through the PTA associated with their school.

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Student Certificate Sample

Volunteer Thank You Letter

National PTA Reflections Logo

Past Program Themes

Art Grants
Howard County Arts Grant – available after Jan. 15
National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Art Grant-Apply in January

Reflections Art Program