California Code, Education Code - EDC § 51225.5

(a)(1) The governing board of a school district maintaining a high school may confer honorary high school diplomas upon foreign exchange students from other countries who have not completed the course of study ordinarily required for graduation, and who are returning to their home countries following the completion of one academic school year in a school district in the state.

(2) The governing board of a school district, a county office of education, and the governing body of a charter school maintaining a high school may confer an honorary high school diploma upon a pupil who is terminally ill.