A confidential database of about 37,000 teachers nationwide punished for a variety of offenses is commonly used by the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board, the licensing agency for teachers in the state, when considering whether to license out-of-state teachers.

However, Hawai'i officials point out that the database, which was recently made available online, may be useless to parents worried about whether their child's teacher may have a criminal background.

The database recently was made public by a Florida newspaper, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, which posted it on its Web site after obtaining it from the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification, which maintains the list.

While the searchable database posted by the newspaper contains only two names associated with Hawai'i, the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board warned yesterday that the list does not say why teachers were disciplined.

Behavior that could lead to a teacher being placed in the NASDTEC database includes sexual misconduct, financial offenses, criminal convictions or even petty misbehavior.

"Any time a licensing agency takes action on a teacher's license, it's listed on the database. The reason can be as simple as fees or dues weren't paid," said Sharon Mahoe, executive director for the Hawai'i Teacher Standards Board.

Until now the list has remained confidential, accessible only to state licensing boards, Mahoe said. It's generally used when considering out-of-state teachers who are seeking to be licensed.

NASDTEC officials point out that the database is incomplete because states voluntarily contribute information to the database.

The nonprofit organization cannot force states to contribute information on why a teacher was in trouble.

Mahoe said that most states, including Hawai'i, contribute information to the database and that the information generally helps licensing agencies investigate misconduct by teachers seeking to teach in another state.

However, Mahoe pointed out that the licensing board does not have the authority to hire teachers or conduct background checks. That's left up to the state Department of Education.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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