Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP) is increasing quality physical activity in America’s schools by identifying innovative solutions pioneered by everyday people, and empowering new schools with the tools and resources to replicate proven models. Accelerating the pace of change, ASAP is demonstrating in schools across the country that fun, quality physical activity is a fundamental component of what defines a great school.
ASAP is unfolding in four phases:
- Identifying Innovation
- Replicating Best Practices in Diverse Environments
- Scaling up Nationally
- Achieving Long-Term Sustainability
PHASE 1 – IDENTIFYING INNOVATION – Started up in 2012 with the assistance of First Lady Michelle Obama, the ASAP Innovation Competition was created to determine and award the most constructive, effective, and flective school-based patterns and technological ideas that advance physical loadings for kids. Almost 500 applications were brought from all 50 states from almost 3000 schools. With sponsorship from a consortium of the nation’s leading health plans, ASAP grants $500,000 to the contest winners: nine school programs and two technology start-ups. Ranging from grassroots efforts in a single school to robust programs deployed in 100+ school sites, these winners provide solutions which may relate to schools of all types and sizes, and in all geographies.
PHASE 2 – REPLICATING BEST PRACTICES IN DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTS – ASAP’s Acceleration Grants pattern is now supplied with 1,000 new school buildings with everything they required – sponsors, educational plans packages, and training – to copy one of these confirmed patterns. The Acceleration Grants campaign is created to advance and greet ‘champions’ who can prosperously realize one of these programs to their own school. Replication of ASAP’s winning models in schools nationwide will grant us the capability to test, advance, and improve each program in various settings in anticipation of a full-scale national roll-out in Phase 3.
PHASE 3 – SCALING UP NATIONALLY – The goal of Phase Three will be to achieve a 10X impact from the foundation built in Phase Two, amplifying the reach and impact of these excellent programs for students nationwide.
PHASE 4 – ACHIEVING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY – The net result will be magnifying – in viability and reach – the very best approaches to school-time physical activity until they achieve a critical tipping point and are endorsed as opportune for long-term public funding. This approach influences policy change from the bottom-up, producing results that mandate public investment and sustainability.
ASAP Acceleration Grants are made possible by generous support from Cigna Corporation.
The ASAP Innovation Competition was made possible by generous support from the following health plans:
- Blue Shield of California
- Cigna Corporation
- HealthPartners, Inc.
- EmblemHealth
- Humana Inc.
- Kaiser Permanente
- Tufts Health Plan
- The Regence Group
- Wellpoint Foundation
- Health Alliance Plan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida Foundation
- Horizon BCBS of NJ
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina