Active Schools Acceleration Project for increasing physical activity in schools

American children experience fewer daily opportunities for movement and exercise, with only 42% of 6–11 year-olds and 8% of adolescents engaging in the recommended 60 min/day of physical activity. Increased quality physical activity is essential, not just through physical education but also via alternative innovative approaches. ChildObesity180's Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP) is committed to increasing quality physical activity in schools to combat childhood obesity and evoke beneficial health, behavioral, and academic outcomes. ChildObesity180 is a multi-sector group of national leaders working together and using an evidence-based approach to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. ASAP was launched in February 2012. The first phase involves a nationwide Innovation Competition to identify and reward innovative and impactful physical activity programs and technologies to motivate quality physical activity at school and beyond. Announced by the First Lady and Let's Move, the competition is being heavily publicized via Facebook, Twitter, traditional, educational, and health technology channels. Applications were accepted over ten weeks, with winners announced by summer 2012. The second phase entails refining and replicating winning programs in diverse communities to evaluate success and scalability. The ultimate goal is to magnify viability and reach and promote nationwide adoption of the very best programs. This approach influences policy change from the bottom-up, with thoroughly vetted physical activity programs scaled in different geographies with different populations to produce results that inspire public investment and sustainability. It is an evidence-based, comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach for magnified impact on children's physical activity and well-being.