PHOENIX — Arizona Supreme Court is letting stand a lower court's ruling that said charter schools aren't legally entitled to the same state funding provided to district schools.

The justices on Thursday declined to review the Court of Appeals' Nov. 18 ruling that said the state's school funding system isn't unconstitutional though charter schools and district schools get unequal funding.

A lawsuit filed on behalf of parents of students attending charter schools had argued that the school funding system violates the Arizona Constitution's requirements for a general and uniform public school system and for equal protection under the law.

The Court of Appeals said it's enough that the charter schools provide students with an adequate, free public education and that charter school students can attend district schools if they desire.