Any application which has been submitted under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] by an Indian tribe for a school which is not in operation on January 8, 2002, shall be reviewed under the guidelines and regulations for applications submitted under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act that were in effect at the time the application was submitted, unless the Indian tribe or tribal organization elects to have the application reviewed under the provisions of subsection (b).
The Secretary may not make a determination under this paragraph that is primarily based upon the geographic proximity of comparable public education.
Applications submitted under paragraph (1)(A) shall include information on the factors described in subparagraph (B)(i), but the applicant may also provide the Secretary such information relative to the factors described in subparagraph (B)(ii) as the applicant considers appropriate.
If the Secretary fails to make a determination under subparagraph (A) with respect to an application within 180 days after the date on which the Secretary received the application, the Secretary shall be treated as having made a determination that the tribally controlled school is eligible for assistance under the title [1] and the grant shall become effective 18 months after the date on which the Secretary received the application, or on an earlier date, at the Secretary’s discretion.
All applications and reports submitted to the Secretary under this chapter, and any amendments to such applications or reports, shall be filed with the education line officer designated by the Director of the Office of Indian Education Programs of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The date on which such filing occurs shall, for purposes of this chapter, be treated as the date on which the application or amendment was submitted to the Secretary.
Any application that is submitted under this chapter shall be accompanied by a document indicating the action taken by the tribal governing body in authorizing such application.
Except as provided by subsection (c)(2)(E), a grant provided under this chapter, and any transfer of the operation of a Bureau school made under subsection (b), shall become effective beginning the academic year succeeding the fiscal year in which the application for the grant or transfer is made, or at an earlier date determined by the Secretary.
The Bureau shall submit an annual report to the Congress on all applications received, and actions taken (including the costs associated with such actions), under this section at the same time that the President is required to submit to Congress the budget under section 1105 of title 31.