HOUSTON -- The Houston Independent School District plans to crack down and toughen up its code of conduct to combat classroom cheating, Local 2 reported Sunday.

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Tougher Penalties Slated For Cell Phone Cheaters

Officials with the Houston Independent School District said they have had enough of students using cell phones to cheat and want to increase penalties for students caught using cell phones while taking tests.

"We've had some teachers who told us that they suspect there may be some of this going on. We haven't seen much of it yet, but the technology certainly exists," HISD spokesman Terry Abbott said.

With the recent rise in cell phone users carrying phones with digital cameras, school officials say it is easy for students to snap an image of a test and sending it to friend, who responds with a text message.

"If this is approved by the school board, then this will be in effect for the start of the new school year," Abbott said.

Administrators said in-school and out-of-school suspensions are punishment options being considered.

Andy Dewey, an official with the teacher's union, said the organization likes the idea of increasing the penalty.

Yvonne Sibley, the aunt of a HISD honor roll student, said she thinks schools need to get rid of cell phones in class.

"I think that phones should only be used for emergency purposes," Sibley said.

Sibley's niece, Brianna Reed, told Local 2 she wasn't sure how common cell phone cheating was because she does not spend time in a cheating environment.

"I think it's a good idea to restrict the use of cell phones. It certainly opens the opportunity to text message and get answers," parent Don Worley said.

School leaders are planning other code of conduct changes that include punishing any student who makes a hit list or for students involved in organized gang activity on campus.

The school board will discuss the measures at a school board meeting Monday and is scheduled to vote on possible changes Thursday.