TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — An attorney for four Kansas school districts says the state Supreme Court needs to take “prompt action” to fix funding shortfalls.

Attorney Alan Rupe told the court on Friday that “the kids of Kansas deserve nothing less.” He is requesting $54 million that he says poor schools were shortchanged last year and this year.

Earlier Friday, the state’s attorney, Stephen McAllister, told the court school funding increases in 2014 were an improvement over previous years. He argued the decision to adopt block grant funding while lawmakers look for a better school funding formula shouldn’t be punished.

A Shawnee County District Court panel found in June that the state’s new strategy for financing 286 school districts and cuts to state aid for low-income school districts were unconstitutional.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The state of Kansas is defending its public education funding as “appropriate and laudable.”

The state’s attorney, Stephen McAllister, told the Kansas Supreme Court Friday that school funding increases in 2014 were an improvement over previous years. He argued the decision to adopt block grant funding while lawmakers look for a better school funding formula shouldn’t be punished.

The court is considering claims by four school districts that school funding is inadequate. The justices will hear next from the districts’ attorney.

A Shawnee County District Court panel found in June that the state’s new strategy for financing 286 school districts and cuts to state aid for low-income school districts were unconstitutional. The order was stayed while Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s office pursued an appeal.

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a school funding case on the same day state officials and university economists are meeting to issue new tax collection projections.

The new forecast coming out Friday is expected to be more pessimistic than the existing one, which could create challenges if the state is ordered to spend more on its schools.

A Shawnee County District Court panel found in June that the state’s newly enacted strategy for financing 286 school districts and cuts to state aid for low-income school districts were unconstitutional. The Supreme Court granted Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt’s request for a stay on the order while pursued an appeal.

Schmidt and Gov. Sam Brownback say the judicial panel in the school finance case overstepped its constitutional authority.