Dive Summary:

• Much focus is placed on the importance of "STEM" (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, but a new movement to change the acronym to "STEAM," adding an "A" for the arts, is gaining ground.
• At the head of the movement is the Rhode Island School of Design--which maintains a STEMtoSTEAM.org website that argues art and design's importance as a key differentiator for tech start-ups and products--and advocates of the movement also say that the arts encourage critical thinking and innovative problem-solving while also increasing creative thinking and student engagement.
• Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the city's 2013 "Summer of Learning" will have a heavy STEAM focus, the Drew Charter School in Atlanta specifically focuses on "STEM to STEAM" and an online petition is seeking support for House Resolution 319, which encourages members of the House of Representatives to support the addition of art and design to federally funded STEM programs.

From the article:

For years, educators have been told about the importance of STEM education-for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-in ensuring the nation's competitiveness in a global economy. But now, a new movement seeks to amend that acronym to "STEAM"-with an "A" for the arts. Leading the charge is the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), which maintains the website STEMtoSTEAM.org. ...