Research at the intersection of cognitive science and education has major benefits for both researchers and education practitioners. Yet, a number of logistical and communication challenges must be carefully negotiated to maximize the benefits of these collaborations. In this article, we trace the investments and major publications that have sought to bridge cognitive science and education over the past 40 years to provide context for the papers in a special issue of the "Journal of Cognition and Development" "Found in Translation: Cognitive Development Meets Education. We use the Institute of Education Sciences' investments in research at the intersection of cognitive science and education as a case study for what the field has primarily focused on over the past two decades and, finally, we offer a broad overview of the themes that this special issue touches on and a commentary on how we believe the field can improve.