Wilson Seeks New Funding Boost for State's Schools

By Robert C. Johnston

Call it the "May Surprise."

Gov. Pete Wilson of California announced last week that he wants to add more than $500 million to the education budget plan he unveiled in January in order to help pay for teacher training and textbooks, as well as intervention for low-performing schools and students.

Earlier this year, the Republican governor proposed spending $23.5 billion on K-12 education in fiscal 1999. The latest round of additions would boost that to $24 billion--a 7 percent...