Ed-Tech Probe Resignation
LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho Resigns After FBI Raids Linked to Ed-Tech Contract Probe
Key Points
In his resignation letter, Carvalho wrote: “Placing students first has always guided my work… I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026.”
Officials declined to describe the investigation behind the raids in detail: the FBI’s Los Angeles field office spokesperson said agents were serving warrants but declined further comment because “affidavits laying out details… are under seal.” Separately, a U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson said the search was carried out under a “court-authorized warrant,” but did not provide additional details.
NBC Miami reported that when “Ed” was unveiled, Carvalho described it as acting like a “personal assistant for students and parents,” intended to help with tasks including “tracking grades” and “providing educational and mental health resources.”
LAist reported that during Carvalho’s absence, acting Superintendent Andrés Chait handled major operational work for LAUSD, including “negotiations with the district's labor unions — ultimately avoiding a massive strike,” as well as a “significant reduction-in-force plan.”
Carvalho’s resignation timing was not immediately clear in some reporting: LAist noted the reason for the timing “wasn’t immediately clear,” even as the district confirmed the resignation and the status of the federal investigation remained unclear.
Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho resigned on June 21, 2026, months after FBI agents raided his home and district headquarters. In his resignation letter, he wrote: "Placing students first has always guided my work… I am resigning as Superintendent of LAUSD effective today, June 21, 2026." Carvalho had been on paid administrative leave since the February raids and denied any wrongdoing.
The LAUSD Board of Education confirmed it received the resignation and said Acting Superintendent Andrés Chait will remain in place while the district searches for a permanent leader. The federal investigation remains active, with court documents still under seal. The reason for the resignation's exact timing, LAist noted, "wasn't immediately clear."
FBI Raids Triggered a Leadership Crisis at LAUSD
On February 25, 2026, FBI agents executed simultaneous search warrants at Carvalho's private home, LAUSD headquarters at 333 S. Beaudry Ave., and a third property in Florida tied to Carvalho. The FBI's Los Angeles field office confirmed agents were serving warrants but said affidavits "laying out details… are under seal," according to a spokesperson. A U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson confirmed the search used a "court-authorized warrant" but gave no further details.
The board placed Carvalho on paid administrative leave shortly after the raids. Chait, a longtime district administrator, stepped in as acting superintendent. He led union negotiations that avoided a major strike and managed a significant reduction-in-force plan during Carvalho's four-month absence, LAist reported.
The 'Ed' Chatbot Deal That Sparked a Federal Inquiry
The probe is linked, at least in part, to LAUSD's contract with AllHere Education, an ed-tech firm that built an AI chatbot called "Ed." When Carvalho unveiled the tool in March 2024, he called it a "personal assistant for students and parents" that could help with "tracking grades" and "providing educational and mental health resources," NBC Miami reported. LAUSD reportedly paid about $3 million upfront before the deal collapsed.
AllHere laid off most of its staff by June 2024 due to financial trouble. The company's founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was later charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft in a separate federal case. Carvalho was not named in that fraud case. Still, federal agents later searched his home and office, raising questions about his ties to AllHere subcontractors and the district's vetting process.
Sealed Warrants Leave Key Questions Unanswered
Because the FBI affidavits are under seal, the public does not know exactly what agents were looking for. The FBI declined to say more. The DOJ cited a "court-authorized warrant" and stopped there. This secrecy means the board and the public are left to make decisions — like accepting Carvalho's resignation — without knowing the full scope of what investigators found.
The timing also raises financial questions. Carvalho's contract could entitle him to at least a 12-month payout if he was terminated without cause. Because he resigned rather than was fired, the district may face a costly settlement — though it is not yet clear whether any deal was reached, LAist reported.
LAUSD Now Faces a Leadership Search and a $3 Million Hole
The board must now decide whether to give Chait the permanent job or launch a national search. Chait earned internal support by keeping the district stable — no strike, no leadership vacuum — during a chaotic stretch. The board said its priority is maintaining stability for the district's more than 400,000 students.
Beyond leadership, LAUSD must reckon with the $3 million it paid to AllHere for a chatbot that no longer works. Education policy experts say the collapse shows what happens when districts fail to properly vet AI vendors. A full audit of technology contracts is expected once the FBI investigation reaches a public stage.
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