TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Groups representing Kansas teachers, parents and school boards say a court ruling on education funding validates their arguments that the state is underfunding its schools.

But the ruling Tuesday from a three-judge panel in Shawnee County District Court drew strong criticism from a conservative think tank.

The ruling says the state isn’t spending enough money on public schools to provide a suitable education for every child.

Among the groups praising the decision were Kansas Families for Education, the Kansas Association of School Boards and the Kansas National Education Association. The KNEA is the state’s largest union for teachers.

But President Dave Trabert of the conservative Kansas Policy Institute says the judges ignored facts showing schools are adequately funded and issued a political decision.