Literature Review on Induction and Mentoring Related to Early Career Teacher Attrition and Retention

Early career teacher attrition is a matter of economic, social, and educational concern in many countries. Usually induction programs, including mentoring, are seen to alleviate the problem of early career teacher attrition. Mentoring/induction programs as a solution to what is defined as the problem of early career teacher attrition and retention is the focus for this literature review to determine the current research base that supports such programs and initiatives. Concerns were raised that perhaps induction and mentoring had become the acceptable or taken-for-granted solution to the problem of early career teacher attrition and retention without sufficient attention to the research base. In this article, the literature is summarized, concerns are raised, and new research directions are highlighted.