Los Angeles Unified Schools Supt. Alberto Carvalho, who has been under investigation by the FBI for four months, resigned Sunday night as the leader of the second largest school in the country, which came to a surprising end in one of the most important and high-profile districts.
Carvalho’s legal team confirmed that he submitted his resignation letter Sunday night to the LA Unified School District and to individual members of the Board of Education.
“It has been an honor to serve you,” Carvalho began in a letter to “students, families, teachers, staff and the LAUSD community.”
“Over the past four years, together, we have made historic progress – gains that belong to our students, our teachers, our staff and our communities,” Carvalho said. His letter only stated the reason for his resignation and did not specifically address the early morning FBI raids on his home and district office in late February, which led to his being placed on paid leave and the appointment of acting superintendent.
“Putting students first has always guided my work,” said Carvalho. “Because I believe our schools must remain student-centered and learning uninterrupted, I am resigning as LAUSD Superintendent effective today, June 21, 2026.”
It is not clear whether Carvalho’s departure comes with a negotiated deal. His contract stipulates a minimum salary of 12 months when the district terminates his employment without reason.
According to law enforcement sources, the federal investigation is at least partially connected to Carvalho’s dealings with the contractor that brought the failed chat AI business to the region. In his previous public statement since the raid, which he issued through his lawyers, he said he had done nothing wrong. He also said in that March statement that he wants to go back to work.
His resignation letter focused on benefits, citing significant gains on state test scores, record graduation rates, an improved record on Advanced Placement courses and exams, and voter approval of the largest state school bond in modern times.
“Most importantly,” he added, “our progress has been balanced. Low-income students, students with disabilities, foster youth, and black and Latino students have all surpassed their pre-pandemic performance — a result that reflects the hard work and commitment of many in this District.”
Carvalho’s tenure was marked by academic growth and widespread acclaim — and his emergence as a voice for immigrant families who fell victim to brutal deportations during the second Trump administration.
LA Unified, meanwhile, has also been a target of the Trump administration, which reopened an investigation into the program that provides support for black students and other students with similar needs.
During his four years in office, Carvalho faced heavy blows and navigated high-profile controversies unrelated to the Trump administration — including a major cyberattack on the school system, allegations of misappropriation of funds aimed at art education and a failed intelligence project.
Carvalho remains under government investigation
Then came lightning – the FBI’s Feb. 25 at Carvalho’s home and office, which coincided with a raid on the Florida home of academic marketing consultant Debra Kerr, a longtime professional assistant to Carvalho.
Kerr, like Carvalho, has not been charged with wrongdoing.
The federal investigation is related to Carvalho’s dealings with one or more contractors. Another factor under review was the district’s contract with AllHere, a now-defunct company that produced a botched chatbot — one that was supposed to use artificial intelligence to revolutionize education but was instead terminated after a few months.
Two days after the FBI raid, on February 27, the Board of Education placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave.
The board appointed district veteran Andres Chait as acting superintendent. Chait narrowly averted a three-union strike in April with agreements that restored labor peace — but left critics questioning whether the school system could reach the deal, and whether Carvalho would have grabbed the cheapest contract.
Some union leaders viewed Carvalho with caution, though they did not attack him with the vigor of some past superintendents. Last week, in interviews with The Times, leaders of two major unions – United Teachers Los Angeles and Service Employees International Union Local 99 – called for Carvalho to be replaced.
Uncertainty over Carvalho’s status has hung over the district since the raid – with some criticizing his paid leave as the district faces budget pressures and layoffs.
The misery of Carvalho does not end. He remains the focus of a government investigation, the direction of which has not been officially disclosed. No timeline has been announced related to the investigation.
And LA Unified isn’t exempt from massive federal scrutiny. With or without Carvalho, LA Unified is the target of at least two federal probes.
The Trump administration is investigating whether the district is discriminating against white students by giving them smaller classes and more counseling at non-white schools. The second investigation looks at whether the popular Black Student Achievement Plan provides unfair advantages to black students based on their race.
The district defends its conduct as legal and, last week, restored funding to the Black Student Success Program. The subsidy has been on the table for major cuts as it is one of many cuts proposed to avoid a deficit in two or three years.
High profile arrival and tenure
Carvalho arrived at LAUSD in February 2022 as a nationally recognized superintendent, after leading Miami-Dade County Public Schools for 14 years.
Hired for four years at a salary of $440,000, Carvalho quickly adopted a strategic plan that included detailed, regular reviews of school test scores — from both annual state tests and periodic district tests.
He also took steps to prevent fentanyl overdoses and reduce absenteeism. His effort to provide enrichment work and hold during intercession started small but has grown into an ongoing teaching program.
The school system has received significant state and national recognition for improved test scores. Although it took five years to surpass pre-pandemic levels, the pace of recovery and improvement outpaced that of many school systems.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has praised Carvalho as a national education leader.
Carvalho’s problems included a three-day strike in March 2023. What followed was a big pay rise, especially for low-wage non-teaching staff, although there were big increases for all categories of workers.
The district continues to face the ongoing challenges of declining enrollment and chronic absenteeism — both apparently exacerbated by threats of layoffs, according to some experts.
A seemingly high point that turned to shame was the March 2024 unveiling of “Ed” – an artificial intelligence chatbot that was supposed to guide families through their child’s education and wider development. The project was supposed to be released within a few months – before it could be widely distributed – when the company behind it collapsed.
The company’s founder soon faced federal charges and eventually Carvalho would be drawn into the investigation as a person of interest.
The financial cost of chatbot failures — so far — has been nearly $3 million, according to LA Unified.
Last September the school board unanimously approved a new four-year contract for Carvalho.
“Superintendent Carvalho understands that every decision must serve the best interests of our children,” board member Karla Griego said at the time. “He has led with compassion, courage, and a relentless drive to expand opportunities for all students. I look forward to what we will accomplish together in the years to come.”
