"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) Is She Your Competition? Are India's Students Outpacing Yours? (Liam Julian); (2) The Joy of Art: New Orleans Cultural Heritage Comes to Life through an Inspiring Mural Created in Four Schools; (3) Teacher Absences: How Much of a Problem Is It?; and (4) Charter Schools Are Here to Stay: A Brief Look at Growth (David W. Kirkpatrick). Additional sections include Signs of the Times; and News from Washington, D.C.