This month Ohio's school board revoked the teaching licenses of four teachers convicted of everything from sending sexually explicit e-mail to a student to sexual imposition and sexual battery.

According to a recent report by the Associated Press, Ohio has revoked the teaching licenses of 38 schoolteachers over the past 3-1/2 years for sexual misconduct with children.

Unfortunately, many other teachers who engage in such conduct may still be teaching because of a gap in the state law. Sexual contact between school employees and students is illegal, and the schools are required to report such incidents to the police and local children's service agencies. But the districts are not required to report the incidents to the Ohio Department of Education's (ODE) licensing authority.

It's unknown how many cases are quietly settled, ignored or under-reported at the local level. If the misconduct does not rise to the level of a criminal offense, some school boards may keep it quiet if the teacher resigns. This spares them messy investigations, protracted disciplinary proceedings, costly lawsuits and public damage to a district's reputation. But if such a teacher is able to keep his license, he can seek employment with any other district in the state.

Tracking misbehaving teachers from state to state is another problem. There is a voluntary national database run by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification on which states may list teachers whose licenses have been revoked or suspended. But experts say reporting is spotty and it's incumbent upon each state to check the lists when hiring new teachers or renewing licenses.

We support ODE's push for new legislation to address these problems. Among its proposals:

• Require school districts to report disciplinary actions against employees that result in firing or resignation to the state licensing authority.

• Requirer teachers to get background checks each time they renew licenses.

• Require children's service agencies to turn over complete investigative files involving educators and not simply notify the state when a teacher is under investigation.

• The state should issue revocable permits to athletic coaches, choir and band directors and drama instructors, instead of simply certifying they have appropriate training.

Teachers and school administrators who engage in sexual conduct with students should be kicked out of the profession. To do that effectively requires a standardized system for reviewing and revoking their teaching licenses. We urge General Assembly to act on the ODE's proposals.