The AP says a mother tried to help her daughter’s chances for college by hacking the school’s records.

Caroline Maria McNeal of Huntingdon is accused of using the passwords of three co-workers without their knowledge to tamper with dozens of grades and test scores between May 2006 and July 2007 at Huntingdon Area High School in central Pennsylvania, the state attorney general’s office said.

McNeal, 39, is alleged to have improved her daughter Brittany’s grades and reduced those of two classmates to enhance Brittany’s standing in the 2008 graduating class.

First of all, why was she able to get the passwords of her co-workers? Actually, there is no second question. The fact that they shared passwords says a lot all on its own.

McNeal was charged with 29 counts of unlawful use of a computer and 29 counts of tampering with public records. Each count is a third-degree felony punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine, said Nils Frederiksen, a spokesman for Corbett’s office.

Harsh penalties for changing grades, but I do not see anything in this investigation about those who gave the passwords so she could change the grades. No charges against them? It also does not explain how she was caught. Did students notice the changes? Did the IT department see irregular behavior, such as grades changing outside of normal hours/cycles? Did a co-worker turn her in as part of a plea deal?