Reflections official rules

Students must participate through a local PTA/PTSA. Each student’s eligibility is determined by the state and local PTA/PTSA. A student may develop an entry inside or outside of school.

There are six arts categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Students may enter one or more categories. See each category’s rules for additional entry requirements.

Students enter the division for their grade: Primary (Preschool–Grade 2), Intermediate (Grades 3–5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), High School (Grades 9–12), or Special Artist (all grades). The Special Artist Division welcomes students of all grades and abilities and offers non-artistic accommodations (such as adaptive technology, transcribing, or holding a camera). Assistants must not be involved in the artistic process (such as developing an artist statement, choreography, lyrics, or storyboards). Student recognition and awards are announced as part of the Special Artist Division.

Entrants submit their artwork and student entry form to their local PTA/PTSA program according to local and state PTA procedures, and must follow the requirements for their arts category and division. At Will Rogers, email entries to reflections@willrogerspta.com.

• Only new artwork inspired by the current year’s theme may be submitted.
• Each entry must be the original work of one student. An adult may not alter the creative integrity of a student’s work, and help from adults or collaboration with other students is not allowed except in the Special Artist Division. Other people may appear in or perform a student’s work, but the work must be the creative product of one student, and only one student may be recognized for each entry.
• Each entry needs a title and an artist statement of 10 to 100 words describing what inspired the work, how it relates to the theme, and its content.
• Copyrighted material is not allowed, except background music in dance choreography and film production, which must be cited on the entry form. Plagiarized entries will be disqualified. PowerPoint templates are not allowed.

Entries are reviewed at the local, regional, state, and national levels, and each PTA chooses its own reviewers. Entries are judged mainly on how well the student uses their artistic vision to portray the theme, and on originality and creativity. The program places no restrictions on content or subject matter. National PTA may use its sole discretion in selecting submissions recognized at the national level. Parents and students may not contact a reviewer to dispute an entry’s status or score. Each PTA selects finalists for exhibition and provides awards; national awards and events are announced at PTA.org/Reflections.

Each submission remains the property of the entrant, but entering gives PTA irrevocable permission to display, copy, reproduce, enhance, print, sublicense, publish, distribute, and create derivative works for PTA purposes. PTA is not responsible for lost or damaged entries. Submitting an entry means accepting all rules and conditions.

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 it.