Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigns amid FBI probe

The embattled superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) resigned from his role after an FBI raid on his home and office earlier this year.

Alberto Carvalho, who led the nation’s second-largest school district, stepped down Sunday, saying his departure is intended to remove distraction from student learning.

"Placing students first has always guided my work," Carvalho said in a statement. "Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026."

His resignation comes as questions continue to swirl around an ongoing investigation believed to be tied to a failed multimillion-dollar AI school contract and potential conflict-of-interest concerns.

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Carvalho's announcement brings an end to his four-year tenure at the district, where he was appointed in 2022 and unanimously reappointed in fall 2025.

In his resignation letter, Carvalho highlighted what he described as several "historic" achievements during his tenure, including record-breaking graduation rates, improved academic performance compared to pre-pandemic levels, and gains in what he called "equitable" progress for disadvantaged students.

"As the School Board stated, when it unanimously reappointed me late last year, our District’s executive leadership team valued achievement and equity and placed our most vulnerable students at the heart of our agenda," he said.

"I leave grateful — to our students and families, whose protection we prioritized, for trusting us, to our exceptional and hard-working teachers, leaders, and staff at every level for their tireless dedication, to our valued partners, and to the community for the privilege of serving. The successes we have achieved belong to you. I will miss all of you and will continue to pray for the success, health, and wellbeing of every student and family in our District."

LAUSD’s Board issued a statement in response to Carvalho’s resignation, saying it remains dedicated to maintaining public trust.

"The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership," the district said. "Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high-quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve."

Acting superintendent Andrés E. Chait will continue to lead the district until a permanent decision is made, LAUSD added.

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Last February, video captured multiple investigators executing what appeared to be a search warrant at Carvalho’s home, carrying items in and out of the residence.

Fox 11 reported that staff members at LAUSD headquarters were also evacuated as agents arrived to conduct a similar search. In addition, a home linked to a longtime associate of Carvalho was also searched, according to the local outlet, citing FBI Miami.

While authorities have not commented on the nature of the probe, the investigation is believed to be tied to AllHere, a now-defunct startup that was contracted to develop a student-facing chatbot.

In 2023, Carvalho awarded the company a $6 million contract for the project, including $3 million upfront.

The initiative ultimately collapsed in 2024 after the company’s founder, Joanna Smith-Griffith, was accused of embezzling funds amid data privacy concerns and whistleblower allegations.

The AllHere deal was reportedly facilitated with the help of Debra Kerr, an edtech salesperson who maintained a long-standing personal friendship and professional association with Carvalho dating back to the 2000s, according to public records cited by the Los Angeles Times. Kerr’s Miami home was among those targeted during the broader LAUSD-related searches, according to reports.