Public can check any record of state disciplinary action

 It'll soon be easier for the public to find out about misbehaving teachers in Florida.

The state Department of Education is creating a Web site that will allow anyone to check disciplinary actions that could affect an educator's teaching certificate, Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg told reporters Friday. When the new school year begins in August, parents can search www.MyFloridaTeacher.com, an online database that tracks teacher misconduct. State officials say it's simply good information to have available, in the same way consumers can investigate their doctors' histories.

Probes of teacher misconduct -- from criminal actions such as drug possession and drunken driving to physical force against students -- are on the rise in recent years. There were 3,744 cases opened last year involving Florida educators, up from 3,371 cases the year before, an increase linked to higher numbers of teachers in the system, Blomberg said.

"School districts can already access disciplinary action against a teacher at any time and parents should have the same information," she said. "The best way to protect students is through a transparent system of information."

But the Web site won't contain records of local school district investigations or disciplinary actions against teachers that don't violate professional standards. However, districts must inform the state whenever they find teachers in violation of those standards. Nat Harrington, Palm Beach County schools spokesman, said cases are sent to state officials when probable cause is found during a local investigation.

"It's important that the state, since it licenses teachers, know what the facts are when teachers are accused of wrongdoing," he said. "We need to have the best possible people in our classrooms."

The education department's Bureau of Professional Practices Services investigates alleged misconduct by Florida teachers who hold teaching certificates The state Education Practices Commission determines penalties against a teacher, including revocation and suspension.

Teacher unions, including the Florida Education Association, are monitoring the state's decision to post the disciplinary findings.

"Any time that you're posting information online, there are privacy concerns and it may very well be too early in the process to say," said John Ristow, a spokesman for the Broward Teachers Union. "But that issue certainly should be an important part of any discussion of doing this as the idea proceeds."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/broward/sfl-pteachers03mar03,0,4441876.story