School choice advocates are spinning last week’s election results in the most positive light possible.

“School choice victorious in the 2018 elections,” read the headline on a press release issued by the American Federation for Children.

That’s a bit of a stretch. While voters elected pro–school choice candidates in many states, they dealt a significant blow to the choice movement’s flagship initiative—the education savings account (ESA).

Education played a much smaller role than expected in Tuesday’s midterm elections following teacher strikes this year. Activists hoped a pro-education wave would wash over state capitols and, in some cases, governors’ mansions. But the advocacy championed by teachers unions had mixed results.

Students are usually at the center of free speech fights on university campuses—think Christian groups sanctioned for faith-based leadership requirements and both socialists and libertarians ordered not to pass out pamphlets without prior approval.

Christian colleges and universities found themselves forced to wear a scarlet letter under the Obama administration: D for discrimination.

Americans are funneling money into 529 college savings accounts at record rates.

Total investments in the funds grew to $328.9 billion as of June 30, according to the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN). Perhaps bolstered by the stock market’s seemingly endless climb during the first half of the year, assets grew by $9.8 billion in just six months. The average account now tops $24,000, more than double the average from 10 years ago.

Teachers are underpaid and overworked. At least that’s the prevailing narrative driving conversations about education funding across the country.

Alleane West knew her four sons had potential. But growing up in Mobile, Ala., they had few educational options and plenty of opportunity to get off track. When she and her oldest son, Nick, discovered the state’s tax credit scholarship program, it felt like a lifeline.

“It was a relief that nobody would understand unless you know you’re a single mom with boys, trying to not make them a statistic,” West said in a video produced by the Alabama Opportunity Scholarship Fund.