Reminder: Voting Still Open for Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest “People’s Choice” Award, Deadline is September 30, 2026

Published on Tuesday, September 15, 2026

PROVIDENCE, RI - As students return to school, Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) are reminding students, families, and educators that voting is still open for the Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest "People's Choice" award. The contest was launched to encourage students to use their creativity to promote the importance of daily attendance.

The public is invited to vote for their favorite student video from the list of top ten finalists. From now through September 30, 2026, the public can view and vote for their favorite video on RIDE's YouTube page. Votes are counted by the number of "likes" received on a single video. The winner of the "People's Choice" award will receive a $250 gift card to New England-based Hunt's Photo and Video.

"Student voices are among the most powerful tools when it comes to changing the culture around attendance," said Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. "The Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest has given Rhode Island students the opportunity to showcase their creativity while reinforcing the importance of showing up to school. I encourage everyone to watch the finalist videos and cast their vote for the 'People's Choice' award!"

Through the Attendance Matters RI campaign, Rhode Island has made remarkable progress in improving student attendance since the height of the pandemic, achieving a 14.4 percentage point reduction in chronic absenteeism since its peak and recovering more than 4.4 million instructional hours. The Ocean State has earned national and international recognition for its comprehensive strategy and innovative use of cutting-edge data tools to drive attendance improvements, strengthen student engagement, and promote higher levels of academic achievement.

"Rhode Island students have shown us that important messages can be shared in powerful and creative ways," said Rhode Island Board of Education Chair Michael Grey . "Through the Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest, Rhode Island students have brought the importance of showing up to school to life. I'm excited to continue celebrating their work and invite the community to watch, enjoy, and show their support for these talented student creators."

"Every school day counts, and the Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest has provided Rhode Island students with a platform to share that message through their own creativity and experiences," said Council on Elementary and Secondary Education Chair Patti DiCenso. "I hope everyone will take a few moments to celebrate the hard work and creativity of these students by watching their videos and voting for their favorite submission."

Earlier this summer, RIDE announced the top three winners of the Attendance Matters RI Student Video Contest. Student groups from Lyman B. Goff Middle School in Pawtucket, Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College (RINI), and Lawn Avenue School (Jamestown) earned first, second, and third place, respectively. All three schools received prizes from Hunt's Photo and Video. The winning schools were also announced on WJAR NBC 10.

The deadline to vote for the "People's Choice" award is September 30, 2026. The winning video will be shared on social media and featured at events and other platforms across the state.