In this paper, the authors examine the complex relationship between education research and policymaking, analyzing key barriers and potential solutions for increasing research impact on policy. Four main challenges are identified: differing cultures and incentives between researchers and policymakers, communication barriers, competing values in decision-making, and the political nature of education policy. We posit that bridging research and policy is challenging but may be possible through research designs that consider implementation contexts, relationship building, policy-analytic approaches, and institutional support. We conclude with specific recommendations for expanding policy-related work and research in the field of educational technology as well as related translational work to facilitate better connections to policy and practice.