CA Educ Code Section 33033

The State Board of Education may:

(a)

Establish at the request of the governing authorities of any state institution, courses of instruction for the inmates of the institution.

(b)

Examine under arrangements with the governing authorities of the institution the progress of students taking the courses and grant high school diplomas to students meeting the requirements for high school graduation. Certificates of completion previously awarded by the State Board of Education to students who, at the time of the award of a certificate of completion, met the requirements for high school graduation, shall be deemed for all purposes to be the equivalent of diplomas of high school graduation.