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New federal school-choice tax credit sparks battle over state control

A new federal tax credit will direct more than $3bn a year to scholarships, mainly for private and parochial schools, prompting a fight over who controls the program. Public-school advocates want states to set rules and safeguards, while school-choice supporters argue state oversight should be minimal. As the Treasury Department writes regulations, the program marks a shift in federal education policy, with its impact depending on how much authority states are given.