Alberto Carvalho #

Introduction #

Alberto Carvalho is an American public-school administrator who served as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2022 until his resignation in June 2026. Recruited from Miami, where he led the public schools, he arrived in February 2022 as a national star in education circles and won widespread praise for shepherding the district out of the COVID-19 pandemic and championing immigrant students. His tenure ended abruptly: the FBI raided his home and office in February 2026, the district’s board placed him on paid administrative leave two days later, and he submitted his resignation, reported June 21–22, 2026, amid an FBI probe apparently linked to a failed AI chatbot contract that he had promoted. He has denied any wrongdoing and has not been charged with any crime.

Background Information #

Carvalho built his reputation in Florida, where he led Miami’s public schools and was considered a national star in education circles when Los Angeles Unified hired him in February 2022, a few months after schools reopened to in-person learning. His tenure produced measurable academic gains: English language arts test scores rose more than 5 percentage points and math scores jumped almost 8 points, a recovery that far outpaced the state average, while graduation rates climbed. He also drew attention for attendance campaigns, going door-to-door to convince students to return to school. As the Trump administration cracked down on immigration, Carvalho, himself a formerly undocumented immigrant, became an outspoken advocate for immigrant students, with the district setting up a 24-hour legal-rights hotline, free legal assistance through local nonprofits, and a virtual academy for students afraid to leave home. Shortly before his resignation, the parent advocacy group Families in Schools honored him with its “Courage in Leadership” award, saying his support for immigrant communities “reflected the values that define Los Angeles and the very best of public education leadership.”

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation #

Allegations. The claims in this section are allegations from a Federal Bureau of Investigation probe into the Los Angeles Unified superintendent’s office, as reported by CalMatters and FOX 11 Los Angeles, which had announced no public findings. They were never admitted by Carvalho, never criminally charged, and never adjudicated in court. Carvalho denies any of them and has denied any wrongdoing.

In February 2026, just after the district renewed his contract, the FBI raided Carvalho’s home and his office at LAUSD headquarters. According to FOX 11, Carvalho was placed on paid administrative leave by the district’s Board of Education on February 27, 2026 — about two days after the raid — and he had been on leave ever since. FOX 11 reported that the investigation was believed to have stemmed from Carvalho’s ties to AllHere, the failed company that led an AI-chatbot project for LAUSD schools — a contract CalMatters described as one he had promoted. Carvalho broke his silence after the raid to deny any wrongdoing, and neither outlet’s reporting through his June 2026 resignation identified any criminal charges against him. The probe and its suspected connection to the chatbot contract hung over the final months of his superintendency until, on Sunday, June 21, 2026, he submitted his letter of resignation to the district.

Public Reaction and Consequences #

The resignation, first reported by the Los Angeles Times and confirmed by the district’s Board of Education, drew a measured official response. In an open letter to the school board and community, Carvalho framed the exit as his own choice, writing, “It has been a great honor to serve you. Over the past four years, together, we have made historic progress. Placing students first has always guided my work. Because I believe our schools must remain focused on students and learning without distraction, I am resigning as superintendent of LAUSD.” The district, in a statement on behalf of the board, said acting superintendent Andrés Chait would remain in the job until the board picks Carvalho’s successor: “The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership.” Chait, speaking to reporters, told parents that “regardless of whatever may be going on with transitions and leadership … it’s really about the kids and making sure that we have programs that suits families that they can take part in.” The recognition had come earlier the same month.

Current Status #

Carvalho is out of the superintendency he had held since 2022. Andrés Chait remains acting superintendent of LAUSD until the Board of Education selects a permanent successor. The FBI investigation that prompted the February 2026 raid and his four months on paid administrative leave had produced no announced findings and no criminal charges against Carvalho as of the reporting of his resignation, and Carvalho has denied any wrongdoing. No post-resignation role for him was announced in the coverage.

Impact on Their Career/Life #

The resignation capped one of the steepest falls in American public education. Carvalho had been credited with a pandemic recovery that outpaced the state average and celebrated as a national voice for immigrant students, yet he left office under FBI investigation, on the heels of a raid of his home and office that came just after the district renewed his contract. The probe is apparently linked to the failed AllHere AI-chatbot contract he had championed, tying the closing chapter of his Los Angeles tenure to one of the district’s most conspicuous technology failures. Whatever the investigation ultimately resolves, it ended a four-year run that had begun with national fanfare, left the district under an acting superintendent with no permanent successor named, and made his resignation — not his academic recovery — the closing headline of his Los Angeles tenure.