Areas of Practice
- General Education Law
- Special Education
- Section 504 Law
Rhonda Crass has extensive experience in special education law as well as personnel, student issues, governance, open meetings, open records and most other matters in the administration of public schools.
As a former teacher and the daughter of retired school administrators, Rhonda has a unique perspective in the field of public school law. Her legal training and deep experience are enhanced by her awareness of and sensitivity to the effects of local politics and publicity in the representation of school districts.
Ms. Crass is a frequently requested speaker on school law topics both statewide and nationally. She often contributes on school law topics in professional publications. Her popular in-service training programs for Texas school districts are well known and highly regarded. Rhonda presents in-service trainings relating to §504, special education and the ARD process, personnel documentation, how to conduct effective personnel evaluations, handling grievances from start to finish, school board governance, and administrator training.
B.S., East Texas State University – Texarkana, 1984
J.D., Baylor School of Law, 1988
U.S. Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit
United States District Courts for Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
Texas Council for Administrators of Special Education (TCASE) Legal Panel
Council of School Attorneys – Texas and National
School Law Section of the State Bar of Texas
On January 21, 2025, Acting Department of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman issued a directive rescinding the Biden Administration’s guidelines that designated schools and other community services as “sensitive areas”. Those guidelines had stated that to the extent possible, ICE agents should not carry out immigration enforcement activities in these locations. It is now unclear whether […]
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