"Mississippi Senior Cadets Program"; require State Department of Education to establish.

HB 377 establishes the "Mississippi Senior Cadets Program," requiring the State Department of Education to create a mentorship initiative for high school seniors. The program directly affects Mississippi high school seniors who must mentor younger students (5 hours weekly), collaborate with teachers (2 hours monthly), and maintain a "C" average. In return, participants earn preference for state scholarships, three high school elective credits, and three college credits at public Mississippi institutions. The bill mandates the Department of Education to develop rules and guidelines for administering the program.