ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the challenges and costs that practice-side partners face in research-practice partnerships (RPPs), particularly in education settings. Written from the perspective of two experienced district research managers, it analyzes asymmetries within partnerships, including differences in expectations, experiences, and power dynamics between researchers and practitioners. The authors argue that while co-produced research can yield benefits, it also carries significant costs for practice partners that must be carefully weighed. They provide recommendations for both equitable engagement within partnerships and systemic changes needed to address fundamental inequities in research-practice collaboration.
