The FBI searched Los Angeles schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home Wednesday as part of an ongoing investigation, though authorities did not say what the investigation is about.
Carvalho oversees the second-largest school district in the country.
The LA school district’s board issued a statement on the federal search, which “has raised questions across our school communities.”
“The board’s priority remains ensuring that our students, families, and employees experience a safe and welcoming learning environment. Teaching and learning continue across our schools,” the statement added. “Los Angeles Unified continues to stay focused on our responsibility to serve students and their families.”
What was the raid about?
The board scheduled a special closed-door meeting for Thursday afternoon to discuss Carvalho’s employment status with the state.
According to reports, the raid, which targeted Carvalho’s Los Angeles office and his San Pedro home, may be in connection with the LA school district’s previous $3 million contract with AllHere, an AI chatbot company.
Carvalho has denied any personal involvement in the AI company, which is no longer operational after its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was arrested and charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in late 2024.
Prior to heading LA’s school district, Carvalho served as the superintendent of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system.
The authorities were also seen at a home in Broward County, Florida. It belongs to a sales representative for AllHere, as the Miami Herald reported.
About Alberto Carvalho
Carvalho was born in Portugal and has talked about being raised in poverty.
He has opposed the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies, especially the crackdowns in Los Angeles, and advocated for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to keep a distance from the public schools in his district.
“During the first semester, we saw across our community, with deep impact to our schools, immigration raids that have created fear in every single neighborhood,” Carvalho said in January on the issue of attendee concerns.
Aside from the federal investigation, Carvalho faces a $77 million lawsuit from former Superintendent Austin Beutner over the misuse of arts funds, available under Proposition 28.
The LA Unified School District serves around 400,000 students.