Begun in 1996, Project Launch uses individual mentoring and day-long conferences to support new teachers in participating school districts in a 13-county area of North Dakota. First-year full-time teachers meet weekly with their assigned mentors to address immediate concerns and develop a teacher action plan. All participants gather for 4 days of…

This paper describes Project Launch, a beginning teacher induction program that combines individual mentoring with large group meetings that address participants' concerns. Planned by a committee of local teachers, administrators, and teacher educators, Project Launch has operated since 1996-97. Unique features include extensive interinstitutional…

The 1988-89 study reported in this paper focused on teacher attrition, examining the characteristics of beginning teachers in North Dakota. The purpose was to compare characteristics of those teachers who stayed in their first positions with those who left. The study gathered data by surveying school administrators and elementary and secondary…