The purpose of this study was to address the extent to which adequacy litigation functions as a means for improving student achievement, particularly among low-income and minority students. The study extended theory established in prior studies, and took into account the idea that change takes several years to realize and that sufficient time to fully implement the court's decision and embark on a mission of reform may not have been possible with the two-year turnaround time provided for in past studies. Longitudinal NAEP data were examined to answer the research questions and contribute to current theory that deals with adequacy, school finance litigation, and student achievement. A primary finding from the study was that the filing of an adequacy lawsuit can contribute to student achievement outcomes for students overall and that litigation that results in a plaintiff victory can affect achievement among minority student populations, particularly in fourth grade. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that school finance litigation can contribute to overall reform efforts in education. However, with the many influences on student achievement, students living in poverty do not appear to benefit from adequacy litigation.