"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) Are They Ready? National Study Reveals Civics Deficit in U.S. Schools; (2) Making the Cut: Many School Districts Spend More Time on Reading and Math while Cutting Time in Other Areas; (3) Rewarding Teachers with Higher Compensation: New Report Outlines Plan for Performance Pay; and (4) Robbing the Cradle: Is Pre-K Schooling an Irresistible Force? (David Kirkpatrick). Additional sections include Signs of the Times and News from Washington, D.C.