California Code, Education Code - EDC § 45344

(a) Subject to the provisions of this article, any school district may employ instructional aides to assist classroom teachers and other certificated personnel in the performance of duties as defined in Section 45343. An instructional aide shall perform only such duties as, in the judgment of the certificated personnel to whom the instructional aide is assigned, may be performed by a person not licensed as a classroom teacher. These duties shall not include assignment of grades to pupils. An instructional aide need not perform such duties in the physical presence of the teacher but the teacher shall retain his responsibility for the instruction and supervision of the pupils in his charge.

(b) Educational qualifications for instructional aides shall be prescribed by the school district employer and shall be appropriate to the responsibilities to be assigned.