Dan Shackelford

Dan helps postsecondary institutions, K-12 schools and education-related companies navigate complex regulatory issues. Experienced in accreditation, state authorization, student aid, data privacy and online education provision, Dan monitors legislative, regulatory and judicial developments across the education landscape to help clients remain current and compliant. He has a strong interest in helping edtech companies and their partners effectively implement services to produce measurable gains in student outcomes.

A former K-12 teacher and educational researcher with a PhD in education, Dan recognizes the intricate challenges facing clients in the education sector, providing practical, real-world advice clients can understand and implement with confidence.

Before joining Cooley, Dan clerked for Judge Ellen Lipton Hollander of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, delving into a range of civil litigation matters involving universities, K-12 school districts, governmental agencies and private corporations. During law school, Dan worked on a variety of education-related compliance, litigation and transactional matters with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the Education Law Center, and the Ludwig Center for Community and Economic Development. He also served as editor in chief of the Yale Law & Policy Review, development chair of the LGBTQ+ OutLaws board, and a Coker Fellow in constitutional law.