Durbin said Wednesday at a news conference at a high school on Chicago's South Side that about $100 million will go to Chicago Public Schools. The rest of the money will be spread across the state.
The money is coming from a $10 billion federal Education Jobs Fund that's part of larger legislation President Barack Obama signed into law on Tuesday.
"This jobs bill connects what, it connects student learning with a classroom. It connects student learning with the teacher. It connects student learning with the economic recovery of our community Jim Rydland, superintendent, West Aurora School District 129.
Several school leaders from Illinois say once they know how much money they will get they will decide where to add teachers and decrease class sizes.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
