By STEPHEN DOCKERY, Associated Press

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ Connecticut’s acting education commissioner says he is very upset about reports that teachers at a Waterbury school may have changed some students’ answers on a standardized state test, and he wants to increase penalties against dishonest instructors.

George Coleman told the State Board of Education at its meeting Wednesday that he is looking into bolstering regulations to impose sanctions that would force cheating teachers to bear more of the costs for their actions.

Members of the state school board say they support Coleman’s plan and suggest even stronger punishments.

Seventeen staff members at Waterbury’s Hopeville Elementary School have been placed on leave while the state investigates evidence that teachers changed some students’ answers on the Connecticut Mastery Test. Education officials say an investigator is reviewing the matter.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)