Attorneys for parents and school districts are facing off against lawyers for the state in front of the Kansas Supreme Court over the funding of public schools.

Tuesday’s hearing is the second such court battle in less than a decade. At issue is whether the seven-member court will uphold a lower-court ruling issued in January ordering the state to increase school funding by at least $440 million.

The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by attorneys representing several school districts, including Dodge City, Hutchinson, Kansas City and Wichita. They argue the state has failed to comply with a 2006 court order to increase funding.

State attorneys argue that legislators have complied with the order and did their best in difficult economic times.

A decision is anticipated by early January 2014.