In 2017, Illinois ranked dead last among the 50 States in the percentage of state support for their public-school systems. 2018 Illinois changed dramatically the method of funding it’s public schools. The new funding system was based upon 27 factors believed to be predictive of improved student achievement and focuses new funding upon districts funded below adequate levels. In 2018, 659 of the 853 public school systems were inadequately funded, receiving between 46% and 89% of the level identified as adequate by Illinois. This paper describes the first 5 years of this new funding model and the impact of this focus upon adequately funding the neediest districts, the resulting change in the level of adequacy funding and change in the level of student achievement.