Duncan: Stimulus will help schools reform

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan says the $100 billion in federal stimulus money for schools will save thousands of teaching jobs and promote education reforms.

The former Chicago Public Schools CEO spoke at an elementary school on the city's West Side with Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday.

Duncan says the United States is falling behind other countries. He says states have lowered standards and the nation has created more barriers for people to attend college.

Duncan also says he salutes Quinn for having the "political courage" to talk openly about the long-term funding needs of Illinois schools.

The state will receive about $3 billion over the next several years.

Quinn says Illinois schools will start receiving some of those funds in the next two weeks.