The conference report presents the text of an amendment to the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) to authorize the awarding of reasonable attorneys' fees as part of the costs to the parents or guardian of a handicapped child or youth who is the prevailing party in a settlement. The General Accounting Office is directed to conduct a study of the impact of this provision in terms of the number of civil actions brought and amount of attorneys' fees, costs, and expenses awarded from 1984 through 1988. The conference report further clarifies the effect of the EHA on rights, procedures, and remedies under other laws relating to the prohibition of discrimination. A joint explanatory statement of the conference committee is appended which describes the differences between the Senate bill and the House amendment and the substitutions agreed to in conference. (JW)