A theory of educational opportunity that combines adequacy and equity arguments is informed by examining two popular philosophies of resource distribution. Amy Gutmann's democratic threshold theory provides an adequacy argument that mirrors in several ways arguments that have held favor in educational policy. Similarly, the distributive justice theories of John Rawls parallel the logic opined in several key school finance cases. The Rawlsian influence is particularly strong in developing connections between educational opportunities and the expression or enjoyment of basic liberties.