Reflections

2025-2026 Reflections Theme: I Belong!

We are excited to get the 2025-2026 National PTA Reflections Program underway and have much information to share with you!

National PTA made significant changes to the Reflections program information this year. The Ohio PTA Reflections Committee has been diligently collaborating and processing the information to make it applicable to our state program.

Each of these forms contains specific information to the Ohio PTA Reflections Program, while complying with National PTA Reflections guidelines. The Student Submission Entry Form, Ohio PTA Reflections Theme Search, and Official Ohio PTA Participation Form for Councils and Units (found within the Local Leader’s Guide) are all fillable PDFs for your convenience. The National PTA Reflections Student Entry Division Guidelines Packet contains detailed requirements for each arts category, including an entry checklist and reminders, category tips, digital tools and technology use, and copyright and plagiarism information. The basic arts category requirements can be found on the Ohio PTA Category Guidelines and in the Ohio PTA Student Packet. We recommend you share the Ohio PTA Category Guidelines with families, and utilize the National PTA Reflections Student Entry Division Guidelines as a reference for someone wanting to learn more about entry requirements or to help answer individual entry questions.

Important Information

  • Make sure to send any email inquiries to the Ohio PTA Reflections Committee at reflections@ohiopta.org.
  • To participate in the PTA Reflections program, your local unit MUST SUBMIT DUES BY November 30, 2025. There is no flexibility to this rule. If you have any questions about your unit’s dues submission status, please contact your unit’s president, treasurer, and/or membership chair.
  • Reflections entries moving on to the state level must be received in the Ohio PTA office by Friday, January 9, 2026 at 4:00pm.

OHIO PTA STUDENT SUBMISSION ENTRY FORM

We at Ohio PTA diligently work to ensure all participating student entries we receive are able to participate in the Reflections program. Oftentimes, we take the time to reach out to unit chairs, council chairs, families, and students to gather information for incomplete forms in order to allow our student artists to have the recognition they have earned. Last year, of our 28 Ohio PTA Award of Excellence winners, we had 6 entities that did not utilize the Ohio PTA Student Submission Entry Form and nearly did not qualify to move on to the National PTA competition due to the missing data and time constraints. The National PTA entry system requires certain data, and will not accept incomplete forms.


The Ohio PTA Student Submission Entry Form has specifically been created to ensure all required information is received for entries that are selected to move on to the National PTA judging. PLEASE ENSURE EACH ENTRY YOU SUBMIT TO OHIO PTA FOR STATE-LEVEL JUDGING USES THE OHIO PTA STUDENT SUBMISSION ENTRY FORM. If this form is not used, we cannot guarantee entry advancement.

Congratulations to Our 2024-25 Ohio PTA Reflections Winners!

Participation is Easy, Exciting, and Empowering

Students must participate in the National PTA Program through a local PTA/PTSA in good standing. All student entries must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Each entry must be the original work of one student only
  • A student may create their entry inside or outside of school
  • A student may submit entries is more than one category
  • Each entry must be accompanied by a competed and signed Student Entry Form
  • Student entries must include a title and artist statement that communicates their inspiration for the work and how it relates to this year’s theme “Accepting Imperfection”

The Reflections categories include:

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

The grade divisions include:

  • Primary (PreK – Grade 2)
  • Intermediate (Grades 3 – 5)
  • Middle School (Grades 6-8)
  • High School (Grades 9 – 12)

All Reflection entries are submitted first to local PTAs/PTSAs where they are recognized and judged in their grade level divisions. The Special Artist division celebrates all student artists with special needs. PTAs then choose a selection of entries to be judged by local PTA units, which may then be sent on to councils or districts for consideration. The final Reflection entries submitted to Ohio PTA are then judged at the state level and are considered for Award of Excellence (1st), Award of Outstanding Achievement (2nd) and Award of Merit. (3rd). Award of Excellence (1st) entries are then sent on to National PTA to represent Ohio PTA in the final National PTA judging round.

State-level Award of Excellence (1st) honorees receive

  • Invitation to the Ohio PTA Reflections Celebration Luncheon
  • The opportunity to showcase their artwork at Ohio State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
  • Recognition at the Reflections Celebration Luncheon

State-level Award of Outstanding Achievement (2nd) honorees receive:

  • Invitation to the Ohio PTA Reflections Celebration Luncheon
  • The opportunity to showcase their artwork at Ohio State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
  • Recognition at the Reflections Celebration Luncheon

State-level Award of Merit (3rd) honorees receive:

  • Invitation to the Ohio PTA Reflections Celebration Luncheon
  • The opportunity to showcase their artwork at Ohio State PTA Convention Reflections Gallery
  • Recognition at the Reflections Celebration Luncheon

 

Interested in learning more about the arts in education?

Ohio Alliance for Arts Education (OAAE), provides a weekly Arts Online Education Update.