BEND, OR -- Representatives from the Oregon Department of Education will be in Bend on Friday to talk with families about absenteeism. The listening session will start at 5 p.m. at the Downtown Bend Library. Families will be asked about what causes their kids to miss school and how the state can fight the problem. High rates of absenteeism have been linked to many students failure to graduate from high school. The education department has a website called ever day matters dot org with more information.