AI-Powered Observations for New York Principals
New York evaluates teachers using Danielson FFT (2013), Marzano, Marzano Focused Non-Classroom, NYC EFQ, and NYSUT Rubric.
Generate Danielson- or Marzano-aligned feedback from your observation notes in seconds - built for New York school leaders meeting APPR requirements.
Education in New York
Education Landscape
New York serves approximately 2.4 million students across 730 school districts, with over 215,000 teachers statewide. The state uses the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) system under Education Law §3012-d, which requires districts to evaluate teachers using state-approved rubrics. New York is transitioning to updated evaluation systems under Chapter 143 of the Laws of 2024, but districts may continue under §3012-d through the 2031-2032 school year.
Observation Requirements
Under APPR, New York requires at least two observations per year, and at least one must be unannounced. Evaluations include two required subcomponents: principal observations and independent evaluator observations. Peer observations are optional. Districts select from 23 NYSED-approved teacher practice rubrics, with observation frequency and duration determined locally.
State policy facts verified 2026-06-01 against the official source. View the official policy
Framework Spotlight
Supported Frameworks in New York
Danielson Framework for Teaching (2013)
Developed by Charlotte Danielson, the Framework for Teaching is one of the most widely used teacher observation frameworks in the United States. It defines effective teaching through four domains and ...
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Marzano Focused Teacher Evaluation Model (2017)
Robert Marzano's Focused Teacher Evaluation Model concentrates on the instructional elements that research shows have the greatest impact on student achievement. The focused model simplifies evaluatio...
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Marzano Focused Non-Classroom Instructional Support Personnel Evaluation Model (2017)
Developed by Robert J. Marzano and adapted by Dr. Beverly Carbaugh, this model applies the Marzano Focused framework specifically to non-classroom instructional support personnel - coaches, specialist...
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NYC Early Childhood Framework for Quality (2019)
Developed by the New York City Department of Education Division of Early Childhood Education and introduced in 2019, the NYC Early Childhood Framework for Quality (EFQ) sets unified quality standards ...
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NYSUT Teacher Practice Rubric (2014)
Developed by the New York State United Teachers, the NYSUT Teacher Practice Rubric is one of the approved observation rubrics for use in New York's APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) system...
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New York's APPR system requires districts to select from 23 state-approved teacher practice rubrics. The Danielson Framework for Teaching is the most widely used - NYC adopted it as the foundation of its MOTP rubric - while the Marzano model is also popular across the state. Observation Copilot is an Official Partner of the Danielson Group and supports both frameworks, so your feedback aligns to whichever rubric your district has adopted.
Why Observation Copilot
Built for New York School Leaders
Multiple NYSED-Approved Frameworks
Whether your district uses Danielson FFT, Marzano, or another approved rubric, Copilot generates feedback aligned to the framework your district selected under APPR.
Official Danielson Group Partner
Observation Copilot is an Official Partner of the Danielson Group, ensuring your FFT-aligned feedback reflects the latest framework standards and language.
APPR-Ready Feedback, Faster
Turn observation notes into structured, rubric-aligned summaries with evidence, ratings, and next steps - in minutes instead of hours.
Built for New York's Observation Requirements
Copilot supports the principal observation and independent evaluator components required under Education Law §3012-d, including unannounced observation formats.
How Observation Copilot Helps
AI-powered observations for New York
Paste your observation notes. Copilot maps your evidence to New York's framework and drafts structured, rubric-aligned feedback - ready to review and share.
- Supports Danielson FFT, Marzano, and other NYSED-approved rubrics
- Organizes observation notes by framework domains and components
- Generates evidence-based feedback with specific classroom examples
- Creates actionable next steps for post-observation conferences
- Reduces post-observation write-up time from 45 minutes to under 10
- Handles both formal APPR observations and 5-15 minute walkthroughs
What Educators Say
Trusted Nationwide
School leaders in New York and across the country use Observation Copilot to turn raw observation notes into Danielson FFT (2013), Marzano, Marzano Focused Non-Classroom, NYC EFQ, and NYSUT Rubric-aligned feedback in minutes - saving hours every week and giving teachers faster, more specific next steps.
See all testimonialsNew York Districts
Observation Copilot is used by educators in districts including: New York City DOE, Buffalo Public Schools, Rochester City School District, Syracuse City School District. Learn about District Partnerships.
Frequently Asked Questions
New York observation FAQ
- What teacher evaluation system does New York use?
- New York's APPR system requires districts to select from 23 state-approved teacher practice rubrics. The Danielson Framework for Teaching is the most widely used - NYC adopted it as the foundation of its MOTP rubric - while the Marzano model is also popular.
- How many observations does New York require?
- APPR requires at least two observations per year, and at least one must be unannounced. Evaluations include both principal observations and independent evaluator observations.
- How are New York observation rubrics chosen?
- Districts select from 23 NYSED-approved teacher practice rubrics, with observation frequency and duration determined locally.
- What framework do most New York districts use?
- The Danielson Framework for Teaching is the most widely used and is the foundation of New York City's MOTP rubric.
- Can Observation Copilot generate APPR-aligned feedback for New York?
- Yes. Observation Copilot is an Official Partner of the Danielson Group and supports both Danielson and Marzano, so your feedback aligns to whichever rubric your district uses.
Related Reading
Resources for New York Principals
50 Teacher Observation Feedback Examples (Organized by Framework Domain)
50 specific teacher observation feedback examples organized by framework domain, each tied to evidence and a next step principals can use.
Read more
Planning the 2026-2027 Teacher Observation Cycle: A Summer Checklist
A principal's summer checklist for the 2026-2027 teacher observation cycle - calendars, calibration, policy updates, and the tools that hold up.
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Walkthroughs vs. Formal Observations: When Each One Helps and When It Hurts
Walkthroughs and formal observations serve different purposes. Here's how principals balance both in a coaching cycle that actually grows teachers.
Read more
End-of-Year Teacher Evaluations: A Principal's Summative Review Guide
How principals can write fair, evidence-based end-of-year teacher evaluations - without the last-minute scramble or recency bias.
Read more
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