LA schools superintendent resigns amid FBI investigation

Alberto Carvalho has resigned as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, months after FBI agents searched his home, district headquarters and a Florida location as part of a federal investigation whose details remain largely under seal.

The district said staff received Carvalho’s resignation letter Sunday. Carvalho, who had led the nation’s second-largest public school district since 2022, had been on paid administrative leave for about four months after the searches. LAUSD said Andrés Chait, the acting superintendent, will remain in that role until a permanent decision is made.

“The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership,” the district said in a statement. “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.”

Carvalho released a statement through his attorney Monday, pointing to the district’s work during his tenure and saying students had guided his decisions.

“It has been a great honor to serve you,” Carvalho said. “Over the past four years, together, we have made historic progress — gains that belong to our students, our educators, staff, and our communities.”

He added: “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. 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.”

Federal authorities have not publicly described the nature of the investigation or accused Carvalho of any crime. The FBI confirmed after the February searches that the affidavit supporting the warrants remained sealed. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment at the time, CBS News reported.

Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigations in California and Florida are directly related to Carvalho, but it is unclear what, if any, wrongdoing he is accused of. A source with direct knowledge of the matter told CBS News the investigation predates the Trump administration and is examining allegations that Carvalho may have received kickbacks from a business while he was superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The source said the probe is not directly tied to LAUSD or Carvalho’s work there, and that there is no known culpability or connection to the district.

Carvalho’s attorneys denied wrongdoing after the searches. “Mr. Carvalho remains confident that the evidence will ultimately demonstrate that he acted appropriately and in the best interests of students,” they said earlier this year. “We hope the School Board reinstates him promptly to his position as Superintendent.”

The Guardian reported that the FBI also searched a third location near Miami. Citing the Miami Herald, The Guardian reported that the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who previously worked with AllHere, an education technology company that had a contract with Los Angeles schools before it collapsed and its leader was indicted for fraud.

In 2024, Carvalho promoted an AllHere deal for an AI chatbot called “Ed,” designed to help students. About three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district ended its work with AllHere, which later entered bankruptcy. Its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was later charged with securities and wire fraud and identity theft. Carvalho denied personal involvement in selecting AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times, as cited by The Guardian.

Carvalho previously led Miami-Dade County Public Schools before joining LAUSD. Earlier this year, he began a four-year contract worth $1.7 million, CBS News reported.