Topeka ? Nearly two dozen legislators Wednesday formed a caucus with the aim of broadening the education debate to include higher education.

“We understand that K-12 is the priority this year, but we can’t stop there,” said Rep. Jeff Jack, R-Parsons. “The challenges facing higher education are difficult and they deserve our attention.”

Formation of the Higher Education Caucus is an outgrowth of an awareness campaign by Kansas Citizens for Higher Education about the importance of higher education to the state’s economy.

Kansas Citizens for Higher Education, founded in 2002, is composed of business leaders from across the state who are advocating an increase in higher education funding.

It has commissioned several studies, including one that showed Kansas’ university funding was low compared with other states with Big 12 institutions.

On Wednesday, 23 lawmakers started the new caucus, and more are expected to join. Sen. Marci Francisco and Rep. Paul Davis, both Lawrence Democrats, are founding members.

Three legislators have agreed to serve as co-conveners, including Jack and Sens. Janis Lee, D-Kensington, and Roger Reitz, R-Manhattan.

“In this legislative session, we want to get organized, understand the big picture and work with our schools and colleagues on practical approaches to these issues,” Jack said.

“We simply can’t afford to let our post-secondary schools fall behind. If we are going to compete in the knowledge-based global economy, we have to find ways to attract and retain the best and brightest faculty, students and administrators.”

The caucus has scheduled its first meeting for Feb. 23.