LA schools superintendent resigns after FBI raids and months on paid leave

The superintendent of Los Angeles public schools has resigned four months after being placed on paid leave amid a federal investigation. The district's Board of Education announced the departure of Alberto Carvalho on Monday. Carvalho denied any wrongdoing earlier this year and had sought reinstatement as the head of the nation's second-largest school district. The FBI served search warrants at his home and the LA Unified School District’s headquarters on Feb. 25. Two days later, the district’s Board of Education voted unanimously to place him on leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation. In a statement released Monday, the Board confirmed it had received Carvalho's letter of resignation, effective Sunday. "The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership," the statement read. "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." Andrés Chait, who has been serving as acting superintendent, will continue in that role until a permanent decision is made. Authorities have not yet provided specific details regarding the nature of the investigation involving the district, which serves over 500,000 students, nor have they accused Carvalho of any crimes. The FBI also conducted a search at a third location near Miami. The Miami Herald reported that the Florida property belonged to Debra Kerr, who had previously worked with AllHere, an education technology company that held a contract with Los Angeles schools before its collapse and the indictment of its leader for fraud. In 2024, Carvalho had heavily promoted a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named "Ed." However, approximately three months after unveiling the technology and paying the company $3 million, the district terminated its dealings with AllHere, which subsequently declared bankruptcy. Months later, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was charged with securities and wire fraud, along with identity theft. At the time, Carvalho denied personal involvement in the selection of AllHere, according to the Los Angeles Times. A statement provided by Holland & Knight, the law firm representing him, asserted: "Mr. Carvalho respects the rule of law and the investigative process and has always acted in the best interests of students and within the bounds of the law. While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law." An email seeking further comment was sent to the law firm on Monday. Following the search of school headquarters, LA Unified stated it was cooperating with investigators and had no additional information to provide. Carvalho became superintendent for LA in 2022, having previously led public schools in Miami.