This article contributes to the ongoing discussion of the adequacy of funding for public schools, specifically with regard to the provision of programs for at-risk children. Of particular concern is the determination of realistic, research-based costs of adequately funded programs. This article has three basic parts: the definition and measurement of poverty, the determination of research-based cost estimates for programs for at-risk children that can be used as a basic component of state school finance allocations, and the dollar effect of applying research-based cost estimates to a particular case. In this instance, Kentucky is used as the example for analysis, and the results are compared with current formula allocations. (Contains 1 footnote.)