The purpose of this book is to help practitioners and policy makers understand how important it is to assist beginning teachers, and what it involves in terms of policy, procedures, pitfalls, personnel, price in time and money, and prospects. The book is divided into the following chapters: (1) "Beginning Teacher Assistance Programs: An Overview" (Leslie Huling-Austin); (2) "Developing Support Programs for Beginning teachers" (Sandra J. Odell); (3) "Research on Beginning Teacher Assistance Programs" (Leslie Huling-Austin); (4) "Impact of Beginning Teacher Assistance Programs" (Peggy Ishler and Roy A. Edelfelt); (5) "Evaluation of Beginning Teacher Assistance Programs" (Richard S. Kay); and (6) "Starting a Beginning Teacher Assistance Program" (Roy A. Edelfelt and Peggy Ishler). Descriptions of selected beginning teacher assistance programs are appended. (JD)