Thank you for leading the Reflections program for the students in your community!
Reflections is a rewarding experience for students, parents, and volunteers. Our goal is to support our Leaders in maximizing the positive impact on students while providing tools to help guide you through the program from start to finish.
Get started today!
⚠ Download the Local PTA Leader Checklist - This list is for school PTA Reflections Coordinators
⚠ Download the Council PTA Leader Checklist - This list is for the district PTA Coordinators
⚠ Download "How to Host a Virtual Reflections Program"
Need Help Getting in Touch with your Council PTA?
You will find your Council President's email address by clicking on the "Need Help?" tab on the Local Roster. If a Council President is not listed, please email Carrie Mays at programs@txpta.org for further instructions.
Register With Texas PTA as a Reflections Chair to Receive Important Communications
Each year, you should register your PTA role with Texas PTA. While we only require one board member to be on file, it is helpful if all positions are registered. Including those who may not be officially on the board. If you lead a committee such as Reflections, Arts in Education, Healthy Lifestyles and Parent Ed, we utilize the contact list to send important communications and newsletters aimed at those leaders.
Local PTA (School) Leader Registration
Council PTA (District) Leader Registration: Please ask your Council President to add your contact information to the Council Executive Board Google Roster. I will share your name and email address with Local PTAs looking to connect with their Council PTA.
Independent PTAs
Local PTA/PTSA Eligibility
Visit the Texas PTA Standards of Continuing Affiliation page for more information about Active Status and Good Standing.
Category Rules Individually
| General Rules | English | Spanish |
| Dance Choreography | English | Spanish |
| Film Production | English | Spanish |
| Literature | English | Spanish |
| Music Composition | English | Spanish |
| Photography | English | Spanish |
| Visual Arts | English | Spanish |
| Accessible Arts Rules | English | Spanish |
| Single Page Rules | English | Spanish |
| Student Entry Form | English | Spanish |
Reflections Program Timeline
Student Entry Deadline at the Local Level: Local PTAs (individual schools) set their own due date to receive student entries. Most Local PTAs set their deadline near the end of October. Texas PTA encourages Local PTAs to contact their Council PTA or Regional Coordinator (if your Local PTA is not a member of a Council PTA) prior to determining the student entry deadline.
Advancing Entry Deadline at the Council/Regional level: Council PTAs and/or Regional Coordinators set their own due date to receive entries advancing from the Local PTAs. Due dates are typically set for late November or early December.
Advancing Entries to Texas PTA: Entries advancing to Texas PTA from the Council or Regional Coordinators must be received by 5:00 pm on January 15th. If the 15th falls on a weekend or a federal holiday, the acceptance date will be extended to the following business day.
Advancing Entries to National PTA: Texas PTA advances selected entries no later than March 1.
Lunch & Learn Training
We are excited to kick off the 2024-2025 school year with a couple of Lunch & Learns. National PTA has also made a few changes and offered some additional clarification for the current year's program.
Are you new to the Reflections program? If so, please join us for a basic-level training as we walk through the coordinator checklist and discuss the upcoming school year. Please choose the training that matches the level of the program you will be coordinating. There are differences in the procedures, so it is important that you join the correct training. Recordings will be added to the website following the training.
Local Level Reflections Training
Basics for the School Level
View Recording with AI Audio Transcript and Chat - Passcode: R#WPy1Ni
Local Training Slides With Script
Reflections Timeline Calendar - Local Leader
Council Level Reflections Training
Basics for the District Level
View Recording with AI Audio Transcript and Chat - Passcode: 7dE5E#Wt
Council Training Slides With Script
Reflections Timeline Calendar
If you are a more seasoned Reflections Coordinator, please join us for a Reflections Roundtable where Leaders, such as yourself, from across the state share tips and ideas on program promotion, organization and celebration. All are welcome, including new leaders! If something has worked for your PTA in the past or a new idea went terribly wrong, please consider sharing it with the group so that other leaders can learn from your experience!
Please be aware that during this session we will not be going through the basics of the program, although we will briefly discuss the changes that National PTA has made.
Kicking Reflections up a Notch!
All Levels Welcome
View Recording with AI Audio Transcript and Chat - Passcode: UfK24R*?
Kicking Reflections up a Notch Slides
Reflections Judging in Eight Easy Steps
Step One: Download the Reflections Leader Checklist Local PTA (School Level) | Council PTA (District Level)
Step Two: Identify and recruit Volunteers and judges to help you with your Reflections program. Remember that it's best to have judges who are not closely affiliated with your campus.
Step Three: Verify eligibility of all entries received, including National PTA arts category rules and Texas PTA membership requirements. It's important to be proactive in working with families to resolve any eligibility concerns prior to judging.
Step Four: Host your Reflections judging. Before you begin, read through the Local-level Judging Guidelines and prepare your Scorecards. Discuss the Judging Rubric with your judges so they are aware that the highest judging criterion is the interpretation of the theme. Council PTAs and Regional Coordinators should follow these Council-level Judging Guidelines.
Step Five: Download and complete the Advancing Entry Spreadsheet.
Step Six: Following judging, complete the appropriate participation summary for your judging level.
School PTAs: Local PTA Participation Summary
District PTAs advancing to state-level: Council PTA/Regional Results Summary
Step Seven: Advance entries to the next round of judging by the published deadline.
Step Eight: Celebrate your students and Volunteers!
- A free downloadable Reflections Certificate is available to print and customize on your own!
- Themed ribbons and certificates may be purchased through Shop PTA.
- As an alternative or an addition to traditional awards, you could also purchase themed t-shirts for your participating students, volunteers and/or judges to thank them for supporting PTA and the Reflections program!