April 2026 Newsletter - EG S.P.E.A.K.S.

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

A Letter From Our Executive Director

As we move further into spring, I find myself reflecting on both how far we’ve come and the momentum we continue to build as a community.

This past month, we had the opportunity to meet with district leadership to continue strengthening our partnership under the direction of Superintendent David Reilly. These conversations represent a shared commitment to improving outcomes for students with disabilities and ensuring that families feel heard, supported, and included. While there is still work to be done, we are encouraged by the openness to collaboration and the path forward we are helping to shape together.

At the same time, we are making meaningful progress on our three-year plan to become an established Family Resource Center serving the Elk Grove community. This vision has always been rooted in addressing a very real need.

Families in our region deserve accessible, responsive, and culturally competent support when navigating special education systems. We are building something that we know our community has been missing.

Since our last newsletter, EG SPEAKS has supported nearly 30 families across the district. Behind that number are real stories: families gaining clarity, students receiving support, and caregivers feeling less alone in a system that can often feel overwhelming. We are expanding our reach, connecting with new families, and actively working to build partnerships that will strengthen and sustain this work long-term.

We know there are still significant gaps in resources and services for special education support in our region. Every day, we see firsthand how these gaps impact families. And every day, we are committed to helping fill them through advocacy, education, and community-building.

What continues to inspire me most are the relationships being built along the way. We are connecting with incredible parents and students who are not only seeking support, but who are also showing up for one another. There is power and healing in that. And there is real change that comes from a community that refuses to navigate these challenges in isolation.

Together, we are building something that will have a lasting impact on families across our community.

With gratitude,
Amanda Scott
Executive Director, EG SPEAKS

A Message from Superintendent David Reilly

Dear EG SPEAKS Community,

Thank you for the opportunity to share a message in this edition of your newsletter. I want to begin by recognizing and expressing appreciation for the important role that EG SPEAKS plays in supporting students and families across Elk Grove Unified.

As a community-based nonprofit dedicated to uplifting students with disabilities and empowering their families through advocacy, education, and support, EG SPEAKS provides an essential voice and resource within our district.

Over the past several years, the relationship between district leadership and EG SPEAKS has evolved into a constructive, collaborative partnership. Together, we have made meaningful progress in strengthening communication, deepening mutual understanding, and working toward shared goals centered on equity, inclusion, and improved outcomes for students with disabilities.

That collaboration matters. When school systems and community advocacy organizations engage with one another in thoughtful and respectful ways, we create better opportunities to listen, to learn, and to improve. EG SPEAKS brings the lived experiences and perspectives of families navigating the special education system — insights that are critical as we continue to refine and strengthen our practices.

As Superintendent, I am committed to maintaining and building upon this relationship. Our shared focus remains clear: ensuring that every student is supported, every family feels heard, and every school fosters an inclusive environment where all learners can thrive.

I value the ongoing dialogue, the willingness to engage in honest conversations, and the collective commitment to doing what is best for students. I look forward to continuing this work together and strengthening this partnership in the years ahead.

Thank you for your advocacy, your partnership, and your dedication to the students and families of Elk Grove Unified.

— David Reilly
Superintendent of Elk Grove Unified School District

Mark Your Calendars! Our Big Day of Giving Is Just Around the Corner!

Big Day of Giving is more than a fundraiser — it’s an opportunity to expand access, amplify impact, and strengthen support for families in our community.

Thanks to this campaign, EG SPEAKS is eligible for matching gifts, meaning every dollar you give can go even further. Your donation isn’t just a contribution — it’s a direct investment in advocacy services, resources, and support for hundreds of families across Elk Grove navigating disability and special education systems.

With increased funding, we can reach more families, provide more one-on-one support, and continue showing up where our community needs us most.

Every gift matters. Every dollar increases access. And right now, your impact can be doubled.

Join us in making a difference.

Golden Hour Gala

A Big Day of Giving Celebration

Thursday, May 7th, 2026

We are incredibly grateful to our amazing sponsors for their support of this year’s Golden Hour Gala. Because of your commitment to our mission, we are able to expand our impact, uplift families, and continue building a more inclusive community.

A heartfelt thank you to:

Delia Baulwin, EGUSD Area 4 Board Trustee
Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen
Elk Grove City Councilmember Sergio Robles
Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Huntington Learning Center Elk Grove
Beth and Dennis Albiani

Your partnership makes this work possible. We truly couldn’t do this without you.

Advocacy Update — WestEd Study

Update on EGUSD’s WestEd Study & Our Takeaways

By Jencie Ferraro, Director of Advocacy

On April 7, 2026, a presentation was delivered to the EGUSD School Board providing a general update on the current state of Special Education services, along with initial findings from the WestEd study.

As both a parent and an advocate who participated in this study, I left the presentation with mixed emotions.

Hearing statements like “this is nothing new” or “we’ve heard all of this before” was deeply frustrating. For many families, these are not new concerns — they are ongoing realities. At the same time, having these experiences validated by a third party, with data to support them, gives reason for cautious hope. There is a difference between concerns being acknowledged and being substantiated in a way that demands action, and this study has the potential to move us closer to meaningful change.

We encourage you to take time to review the slide deck and listen to the presentation and board members’ responses, even if it’s while multitasking. It is worth your time, and your voice in what comes next matters.

We also want to hear from you:

What stood out?
Did anything surprise you?
What are you hoping to see in the next presentation?

Before EG SPEAKS became a nonprofit providing advocacy services, we were a grassroots group of parents who had no choice but to speak up and speak out at school board meetings. It wasn’t easy, but through that work we built community, opened lines of communication with district leadership, and began to influence change.

That work came with real sacrifice. Parents and caregivers of disabled students are often running on empty by the end of the day — finding the energy after 6 p.m. to show up, organize, and hold the fourth-largest school district in California accountable is no small feat. In those early days, the boardroom was packed. Over time, as months turned into years, attendance understandably decreased.

But even as fewer people could physically be in the room, many more were watching.

We received constant messages:

“Thank you for speaking up for our kids.”
“I appreciate you being there.”
“Your public comment was exactly what I was feeling.”

Those messages reminded us that our voices were never just our own — we were representing an entire community.

One of our primary goals is to serve as a bridge between our community of parents and caregivers and the leadership of EGUSD. We are committed to helping you stay informed about what has happened at board meetings and what is coming next, so you can participate in ways that feel accessible and sustainable for you.

In the coming weeks, we will be following up on several key areas from this presentation and sharing updates, both on social media and more in depth through our newsletter.

Stay tuned!
— Jencie Ferraro, Director of Advocacy

View the presentation slide deck

Would you like to contact your area board trustee with questions on their response to the presentation, or to inform them of your concerns and/or triumphs? Follow this link to find your trustee and their email address.

Community Corner

GiGi’s Playhouse 5K — Dash for Down Syndrome

Saturday, May 2, 2026 · Maidu Park, 1550 Maidu Drive, Roseville, CA

Run, walk, or roll with us — or simply donate to support your favorite team!

Registration (Early Bird / Regular):

Adult Walker: $30 / $35
Adult Runner: $40 / $45
Child Walker: $10 / $15
Child Runner: $15 / $20
Individual with Down Syndrome: $10 / $15
Virtual Walker: $30 / $35

Learn More or Register Here

May 18–19, 2026 in Sacramento

Click Here to Learn More or Register

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