Mum caught altering children's grades

A PENNSYLVANIA woman allegedly changed her children's grades after logging into a school computer system using passwords obtained when she worked for the district.

Investigators say Catherine Venusto used the Northwestern Lehigh School District superintendent's password to change the grades. She was arraigned yesterday on a half-dozen felony counts and released on bail.

Officials say Ms Venusto changed a failing grade to a medical exception for her daughter in 2010, when she was still a district secretary. The New Tripoli woman is also accused of bumping one of her son's grades from 98 to 99 per cent in February.

State police say Ms Venusto admitted changing the grades, saying she thought her actions were unethical but not illegal.

A phone listing for Ms Venusto could not immediately be located Thursday.