As a way of helping states and districts interested in laptop initiatives, the Northeast and the Islands Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NEIRTEC) has reviewed lessons learned to date from many laptop initiatives around the country and has prepared this guide. Drawn from articles and reports about current and past programs (see references at the end of the paper), as well as conversations with policymakers, this guide can be of practical help to emerging initiatives. But it is important that this information not be perceived as a "recipe." What is necessary or appropriate for a particular laptop initiative will depend on its specific goals, circumstances, and needs. Nonetheless, these lessons are intended to increase information sharing across laptop programs and help leaders and stakeholders build on existing knowledge. Because large-scale laptop initiatives are so new, there is still much to be learned. The lessons are presented in five main categories: Planning, Training & Professional Development, Managing Change, and Monitoring & Evaluation.