(AP) — A long-awaited appeal of a ruling requiring the state of Kansas to increase funding for public schools takes center stage Tuesday.

The case is aimed at resolving whether policymakers arbitrarily shortchanged students or did the best they could in difficult financial times.

The appeal comes from a Shawnee County District Court ruling that held that spending cuts caused an “unconstitutional eroding” of education funding.

The case was appealed, staying the court’s order to increase base funding at a cost of more than $440 million.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs argue the state is defying the constitution and not spending enough on schools. Attorney General Derek Schmidt says that’s a matter for voters to decide, not the courts.