Los Angeles schools superintendent resigns after FBI search and months on paid leave
Los Angeles public schools superintendent resigns four months after being fired on paid leave He said he wanted students to learn “without distraction” during a federal investigation.
Alberto Carvalho‘s resignation letter, dated Sunday, did not directly mention the Feb. 25 search of his home and L.A. Unified School District headquarters. two days later FBI executed search warrantsThe district’s Board of Education unanimously voted to place Carvalho on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
Authorities did not provide detailed information nature of the investigation It covers the district serving more than 500,000 students. The investigation appears to be related to the school district’s contract with an education technology company whose leader was later charged with fraud. The company AllHere had a contract with the district to create an AI chatbot.
Carvalho spent his entire education career in Miami-Dade County Public Schools before becoming Los Angeles superintendent in 2022; where it won national praise for increasing graduation rates and academic achievement among Black and Hispanic students. While advocating for Miami’s immigrant students, he spoke openly about his own struggles as a young teenager newly arrived from Portugal, working in restaurants and construction, and at times homeless.
Authorities did not charge Carvalho with any crime. HE denied any wrongdoing Earlier this year, he sought to be appointed president of the country’s second largest region. He resigned Sunday in a letter addressed to “students, families, teachers, staff and the community.” He cited what he called the “historic progress” made during his tenure.
“Putting students first has always guided my work,” Carvalho wrote. “Because I believe our schools should focus on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as LAUSD Superintendent effective today, June 21, 2026.”
In a statement released early Monday, the Board acknowledged receipt of the resignation letter.
“The Board remains committed to providing stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership. Our focus remains unchanged: providing a high-quality education for every student, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve,” the statement said.
It was stated that Andrés Chait, who served as inspector, will remain in this position until a permanent decision is made.
In February, the FBI searched a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reports that the property in Florida is owned by Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere.
In 2024, Carvalho touted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot called “Ed” designed to help students. But about three months after introducing the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district abandoned its agreements with AllHere, which was headed for bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with identity theft, as well as securities and wire fraud.
At the time, Carvalho denied personal involvement in AllHere’s selection, according to the Los Angeles Times.
“Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and always acts in the best interests of students and within the limits of the law,” Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him, said in an earlier statement. “While the government’s investigation is ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors to support any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”
Following a search of school headquarters, LA Unified said it was cooperating with investigators and had no further information.
Carvalho became superintendent of L.A. schools in 2022 on a four-year contract with an annual salary of $440,000. He started a new four-year contract at the same salary in early February, just weeks before the raid, according to school board meeting documents.
Carvalho began his education career in Miami as a high school physics teacher in the 1980s and rose through the administrative ranks. He governed the district for approximately 14 years.
The nonprofit he founded in 2020 to support Miami schools came under scrutiny after soliciting a $1.57 million donation from an online education company that does business with the district. The district’s inspector general later determined that the donation did not violate state or district ethics policies but created the “appearance of impropriety” and should be returned, according to The Miami Herald. Instead of refunding the money, the foundation distributed it to Miami-Dade teachers in the form of $100 gift cards.
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