As the dust begins to clear on Congress’ stimulus bill, it’s clear there are some big winners, some smaller winners and only a few left out in the cold under the compromise legislation totaling $789 billion.

The package has more than $100 billion for education, including $15 billion to bolster the Pell Grant program through a $500 increase in the maximum grant for needy students. Almost as significant for many students is a two-year American Opportunity Tax Credit, which will provide many low- and middle-income families with a $2,500 annual credit to offset college costs. This credit will be more generous than the current $1,500 credit available through the HOPE Scholarship.

Still, some members of the House of Representatives had wanted even more for K-12 and higher education, only to see those efforts beaten back by Senate moderates.

“A plan of this size was not easy to navigate, and it is not perfect,” said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. “But I believe it’s the best possible plan that could be reached swiftly, under challenging circumstances. As the bill moves toward a final vote, here is a look at some of the winners.”

The Big Winners

Low-income students: The $500 Pell increase is the best-possible scenario, since the Senate initially had proposed increases of no more than $400 during the next two years.

The new opportunity tax credit also has a helpful provision: Low-income students and families can get a partially refundable credit – up to 40 percent of the total – even if they have little or no tax liability. That’s huge, says Angela Peoples, legislative director of the United States Student Association, which has advocated the approach since the start of the debate.

“Partial refundability is great,” she says. “That’s new for higher education.”

Pipeline programs: Core initiatives for low-income children such as Title I and Head Start will get significant bumps, a move that may help millions of future college students. Title I will receive $13 billion in new funding with an eye toward reducing achievement gaps, and special education will get an additional $12 billion. Head Start will get $2 billion – $1 billion for its preschool component and $1 billion for its infant/toddler component, Early Head Start. President Barack Obama has identified early childhood education as a key priority to promote long-term achievement, and the new funds will support 124,000 youngsters.