---
title: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-215. “In loco parentis” status of aides and paraprofessionals.
collection: code
id: 20-2-215
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-215 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-215
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-215.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-215/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t20-ch1-2a-(v17)-2022-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=9db936c6_0#page=394
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-214.1.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/code/20-2-216.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: EDUCATION / ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION / QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION / EMPLOYMENT / Conditions of Employment
---

# O.C.G.A. § 20-2-215. “In loco parentis” status of aides and paraprofessionals.

Classroom aides and paraprofessionals shall have, while performing assigned duties, the authority of “in loco parentis,” except for the administration of corporal punishment; provided, however, that such aides and paraprofessionals have at least the minimal training or experience, or both, prescribed by the Professional Standards Commission to have such authority and that such aides and paraprofessionals are under direct supervision of classroom teachers or other certificated professional personnel on a daily basis. Such aides and paraprofessionals shall have such authority both when the classroom teachers are present and when they are absent for justifiable purposes. Such purposes shall include planned release time and such activities as accompanying selected students to other locations or sites, instructing individual students or small groups at a location away from the classroom, meeting with parents and guardians, planning instructional programs or lessons, participating in staff development activities, and other such education activities related to classroom instruction. The Professional Standards Commission shall have the authority to prescribe such requirements and standards as it deems necessary for the effective implementation of this Code section.

## History

Code 1981, § 20-2-215, enacted by Ga. L. 1985, p. 1657, § 1; Ga. L. 1987, p. 1169, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1546, § 4; Ga. L. 1992, p. 2365, § 3.