(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to pre-
serve, protect, and interpret for the benefit, education, and
inspiration of present and future generations, Central
High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, and its role in the
integration of public schools and the development of the
civil rights movement in the United States.
SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL NA-
TIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Little Rock Central High
School national historic site in the State or Arkansas
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘historic site’’) is hereby
established as a unit of the National Park System. The
historic site shall consist of lands and interests therein
comprising the Central High School campus in Little
Rock, Arkansas, as generally depicted on a map entitled
and dated June 1998. Such map shall be
on file and available for public inspection in the appro-
priate offices of the National Park Service.
(b) ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.—The Sec-
retary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Sec-
retary’’) shall administer the historic site in accordance
with this Act and the laws generally applicable to units
of the National Park System, including the Act of August
25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1, 2–4) and the Act of August 21,
1935 (16 U.S.C. 461–467): Provided, That nothing in this
Act shall affect the authority of the Little Rock School
District to administer Little Rock Central High School.
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—(1) The Secretary
may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate
public and private agencies, organizations, and institutions
(including, but not limited to, the State of Arkansas, the
city of Little Rock, the Little Rock School District, Cen-
tral High Museum, Inc., Central High Neighborhood, Inc.,
or the University of Arkansas) in furtherance of the pur-
poses of this Act.
(2) The Secretary shall coordinate visitor interpreta-
tion of the historic site with the Little Rock School Dis-
trict and the Central High School Museum, Inc.
(d) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Within 2 years
after the date funds are made available, the Secretary
shall prepare a general management plan for the historic
site.
(e) CONTINUING
EDUCATIONAL
USE.—The Sec-
retary shall consult and coordinate with the Little Rock
School District in the development of the general manage-
ment plan and in the administration of the historic site
so as to not interfere with the continuing use of Central
High School as an educational institution.
(f) ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.—The Secretary is
authorized to acquire by purchase with donated or appro-
priated funds, by exchange, or donation the lands and in-
terests therein located within the boundaries of the his-
toric site, except that the Secretary may only acquire lands
or interests therein with the consent of the owner thereof
and lands or interests therein owned by the State of Ar-
kansas or a political subdivision thereof, may only be ac-
quired by donation or exchange.
SEC. 3. DESEGREGATION IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THEME
STUDY.
(a) THEME STUDY.—Within 2 years after the date
funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare and
transmit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources
of the House of Representatives a national historic land-
mark theme study (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘theme
study’’) on the history of desegregation in public edu-
cation. The purpose of the theme study shall be to identify
sites, districts, buildings, structures, and landscapes that
best illustrate or commemorate key events or decisions in
the historical movement to provide for racial desegregation
in public education. On the basis of the theme study, the
Secretary shall identify possible new national historic
landmarks appropriate to this theme and prepare a list
in order of importance or merit of the most appropriate
sites for national historic landmark designation.
(b) OPPORTUNITIES
FOR
EDUCATION
AND
RE-
SEARCH.—The theme study shall identify appropriate
means to establish linkages between sites identified in sub-
section (a) and between those sites and the Central High
School National Historic Site established in section 2, and
with other existing units of the National Park System to
maximize opportunities for public education and scholarly
research on desegregation in public education. The theme
study also shall recommend opportunities for cooperative
arrangements with State and local governments, edu-
cational institutions, local historical organizations, and
other appropriate entities to preserve and interpret key
sites in the history of desegregation in public education.
(c) COOPERATIVE
AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary
may enter into cooperative agreements with 1 or more
major educational institutions, public history organiza-
tions, or civil rights organizations knowledgeable about de-
segregation in public education to prepare the theme study
and to ensure that the theme study meets scholarly stand-
ards.
(d) THEME STUDY COORDINATION WITH GENERAL
MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The theme study shall be prepared
as part of the preparation and development of the general
management plan for the Little Rock Central High School
National Historic Site established in section 2.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums
as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
Æ