Frequently Asked Questions

What is Observation Copilot?

Observation Copilot is an AI-powered tool that helps K-12 principals and school leaders turn classroom observation notes into structured, framework-aligned feedback in seconds. Instead of spending hours writing up observation reports, you paste your notes and Observation Copilot generates a first draft organized by your chosen rubric - ready to edit and share with teachers.

What observation frameworks does Observation Copilot support?

Observation Copilot supports all major state and district observation frameworks, including the Danielson Framework for Teaching (FFT), T-TESS (Texas), Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model, and any custom rubric used by your school or district. We are an Official Partner of the Danielson Group.

How much does Observation Copilot cost?

Observation Copilot is free for individual users. This includes unlimited teachers, unlimited observations, and access to our most capable AI model. District Partnerships - which add the District Insights Dashboard, initiative tracking, school-level dashboards, and dedicated support - start at ~$1K per school per year. See our districts page for details.

Is my observation data safe?

Yes. Your observation notes are encrypted and accessible only to you and authorized members of your district. Your data is never used to train third-party AI models, is never sold or rented, and you may delete your data at any time. Observation Copilot is built by Edthena, a company with over a decade of experience protecting educator data.

How long does it take to get feedback after an observation?

Observation Copilot generates structured feedback from your notes in seconds. Principals report reducing their total post-observation paperwork from three hours to just 20-30 minutes per teacher, enabling them to deliver feedback within 24 hours instead of two weeks.

Does Observation Copilot support walkthroughs as well as full formal observations?

Yes. Walkthroughs and formal observations are first-class features. Walkthroughs are brief 5-15 minute visits with a classroom-basics checklist, AI-generated look-fors for a single framework indicator, and focused coaching feedback. Formal observations capture a full lesson with notes, optional audio transcription, lesson plans, and detailed rubric-aligned analysis across multiple domains.

How do walkthroughs and formal observations work together in the tool?

Both observation types live in the same dashboard. You can filter, search, and review them side by side, or build a coaching cycle that pairs a fall formal baseline with frequent walkthroughs throughout the year. The tone of the output adjusts to the visit type: walkthroughs return concise single-indicator coaching feedback, while formal observations return multi-domain evaluative analysis. Read more in our walkthrough vs. formal observation guide at /blog/walkthroughs-vs-formal-observations.

Do I need training to use Observation Copilot?

No. Observation Copilot is designed to fit into your existing workflow. You take notes during your observation the way you always have, then paste them into Observation Copilot. The tool organizes your notes by rubric domain, generates summaries, and suggests next steps - all ready for your review and editing.

What is included in a District Partnership?

The District Partnership includes the District Insights Dashboard for your leadership team, plus the full Observation Copilot platform for all principals, coaches, and staff across your district. You get initiative tracking, natural language search, school-level dashboards for every principal, privacy-first aggregated data, unlimited users, custom onboarding, and dedicated support. Your total time investment is less than 2 hours, and you are live with real data in 3 weeks. See our districts page for details.

Who built Observation Copilot?

Observation Copilot is built by Edthena, an education technology company founded in 2011 by former teacher Adam Geller. Edthena has over a decade of experience building tools for teacher professional development, including the AI Coach platform and the VC3 video coaching platform. The company has been recognized with awards from SIIA, District Administration, Tech & Learning, and SmartBrief.

Can Observation Copilot generate next steps for teachers?

Yes. In addition to organizing your observation notes into framework-aligned feedback, Observation Copilot generates research-backed next steps for teachers based on the areas identified during the observation. These suggestions are ready for you to review, customize, and share.

How is Observation Copilot different from ChatGPT or other AI tools?

Observation Copilot is purpose-built for K-12 classroom observations. Unlike general AI tools, it understands teacher evaluation frameworks (FFT, T-TESS, Marzano, etc.), organizes feedback by rubric domain, and generates educator-specific next steps. Your data stays private and is never used to train third-party AI models. It is built by Edthena, an Official Partner of the Danielson Group with over a decade of experience in education technology.

Learn more: Pricing · Privacy & Security · Supported Frameworks · Testimonials