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Legislators want to make sure your kid gets exercise at school. Some middle schools in Florida were counting walks to lunch and stretches during morning announcements as P.E. time. As Whitney Ray tells us, a bill passed by lawmakers will put a stop to those practices.

Hear it Here: Lawmakers Say 30 Minutes Means 30 Minutes

For 30 minutes everyday, these middle school students get a chance to stretch, run, and just be kids. P.E. is sixth grader Tyler Ison’s favorite class.

“You get to be free and not worry about homework or anything like that,“ said Tyler.

Under pressure to make FCAT score, some schools used questionable methods to teach physical education. Lawmakers say schools were cheating and counting the walk from the classroom to the cafeteria as P.E. time.

A bill passed earlier this month requires middle schools to teach P.E. 30 minutes a day. The exercise would have to be continuous, so walking the halls between classes wouldn’t cut it. Coach Dick Hosford said the earlier kids learn physical health the better.

“If you’re already having weight problems and you’re 12 or 13 it probably won’t do anything but get worse the older you get,” said Hosford.

Seventh Grader Clifton Gwynn said a lot of kids wouldn’t get exercise if her school didn’t require them to.

“They do video games and stuff and I just don’t think that’s very active,” said Gwynn.

Playing together makes friends of strangers.

“I make new friends when I’m playing sports,” said Ison.

While P.E. may not be the most academic subject in school, it teaches healthy habits and teamwork, qualities, hard to learn by just walking to the lunch room. Governor Charlie Crist hasn’t received the bill yet.