2025-26 PTA Reflections
THEME: I Belong!
Thank you for your submissions! Blind Judging is currently underway.
Reflections Assembly is on November 21.
Stay tuned for more details!
FOR MORE DETAILS OR QUESTIONS: CONTACT REFLECTIONS@LCTAPTA.ORG
What is 'Reflections'?
The 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.
Students of all grades and abilities may participate and explore the arts based on the 2025-2026 theme:
“I Belong!”
Special needs students are encouraged to enter and there are a variety of ways to participate.
Students submit their completed works of art in one or all of the available arts categories:
-
Dance Choreography
-
Film Production
-
Literature
-
Music Composition
-
Photography
-
Visual Arts
-
Special Artist Division
For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards
How to Apply?
Students participate in the appropriate division for their grade: Primary (Pre-K - Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5), Special Artist (All grades welcome)*.
*Students who identify as having a disability and may receive services under IDEA or ADA: Section 504 may enter in the Special Artist Division or grade division most closely aligned to their functional abilities.
All judging will be done electronically.
Coordinate dropoff/pickup of physical artwork with the Reflections committee by emailing reflections@lctapta.org
The most important things to have for the entry form:
-
Student and parent contact information, including email address and phone number
-
Title of Artwork ("Untitled" is not allowed)
-
Artist Statement required. This helps the judges to understand your interpretation of the theme and can be the deciding factor in their judging for who wins.
Rules and Guidelines
Students can enter as many categories as they’d like, and may submit multiple entries in a category (unless your school contest has a rule prohibiting this at the school level).
Each entry MUST have its own, separate entry form, completely filled out. The artwork must be titled (“Untitled” is not allowed!) and must be accompanied by an Artist Statement on the entry form or attached to it.
Entries must be the work of one student only; joint entries are not allowed.
Judging is done by experts in the arts field and is based on technique, creativity, and interpretation of the contest theme, with the student’s interpretation of the theme weighted the most heavily.
All entrants should review the 2025-26 Contest Rules, both the general rules and the specifications for each arts category.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON OCTOBER 30, 2025.
2025-26 ARTS CATEGORY RULES ARE AVAILABLE HERE IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
Judges
We have a fantastic panel of Lyles-Crouch judges for the Reflections program.
The PTA volunteers who run the Reflections contest do not judge the entries themselves. Judges are experts in their assigned arts field. When possible, student names are removed from the artwork and other materials the judges will see, to help ensure impartiality. “Blind judging” is a standard practice for art competitions, where reviewers do not see student information to reduce the possibility of bias.
The program theme and review criteria are what make Reflections stand out among other arts contests. National PTA provides the following criteria for reviewing Reflections submissions:
-
Interpretation of Theme (40 pts.) How closely the piece relates to the theme, based on the artwork itself and the artist statement.
-
Creativity (30 pts.) How creative and original the piece is in its conception of the theme and its presentation.
-
Technical Skill (30 pts.) The level of skill demonstrated in the basic principles/techniques of the arts area.
Notice that “interpretation of theme” is weighed more heavily than the other considerations. A well-developed concept is more important than technique. Entries will be judged primarily on how well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, rather than their technical skill or creative process. The emphasis on theme encourages experimentation; students don’t have to be experts in the artistic medium in order to do well. This is what makes the National PTA Reflections Arts Program unique. If two entries are tied in points value, the entry with the higher score for interpretation of theme is given the edge.
Here are the awards for the Lyles-Crouch Reflections program:
-
Outstanding Interpretation: 1st Place
-
Award of Excellence: 2nd Place
-
Award of Merit: 3rd Place