Ex-LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho touts progress as he resigns

Outgoing LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho bragged about his term in office late Sunday, claiming “we have made historic progress” despite budget woes and poor academic results.

The 61-year-old, who has been on paid leave since February, tendered his resignation effective immediately, saying it had been his “great honor to serve” the nation’s second-largest school district.

“Over the past four years, together, we have made historic progress — gains that belong to our students, our educators, staff and our communities,” Carvalho wrote in his resignation letter.

The boast is likely to raise eyebrows across Los Angeles.

The district is grappling with a projected budget deficit approaching $200 million and has weighed sweeping layoffs as enrollment continues to plummet.

Student numbers fell by about 13,500 in the last academic year alone, dropping to roughly 389,000 students. Academic outcomes have also lagged behind Carvalho’s lofty promises.

Just 43.6% of LAUSD third graders are reading at grade level, according to figures released earlier this year.

In math, only 36.8% of students meet or exceed state standards — numbers that have fueled criticism of the district’s leadership despite California spending billions on public education.

Carvalho made no mention of the FBI investigation that upended his tenure.

Instead, he said he was stepping aside because he did not want to become a “distraction” and insisted that “placing students first has always guided my work.”

The Portuguese-born educator has been sidelined since Feb. 27, when the Board of Education voted unanimously to place him on leave just days after federal agents raided his $2.5 million San Pedro home, his office at LAUSD headquarters and a property in Miami.

Agents armed with long rifles descended on the San Pedro residence before Carvalho and his wife Maria Florio Borgia Carvalho were handcuffed and placed in the back of a vehicle while officers searched the property, according to reports at the time.

Federal authorities have revealed few details about the probe, but sources have linked it to the collapse of education technology company AllHere.

Carvalho enthusiastically championed the company’s AI chatbot, dubbed “Ed,” in 2024, calling it a “game changer” for students. LAUSD paid the company $3 million before abruptly ending the partnership less than three months later as AllHere spiraled into bankruptcy.

The company’s founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin was later charged with securities fraud, wire fraud and identity theft. Carvalho has not been accused of wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime.

“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,” a spokesperson previously said.

“While the government’s investigation remains ongoing, no evidence has been presented by prosecutors supporting any allegation that Mr. Carvalho violated federal law.”

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters