Furious parents have demanded the head of Los Angeles Unified School District immediately quit after federal agents raided his homes and offices.
The FBI burst into Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s DTLA workspace, his San Pedro house as well as a location in Miami on Wednesday morning as part of a corruption probe linked to a failed AI chatbot.
The school board held an emergency meeting about “public employment” and “general superintendent of schools” on Thursday, which was held behind closed doors but featured a public comment period.
Enraged parents were quick to fill the space with demands for Carvalho to resign and others even called for the whole board to be disbanded, as his chair awkwardly sat empty.
They argued the raid validated long-standing fears about transparency and decision-making inside the district, which controls tens of billions in public funding.
Juan Megondi said: “If this investigation escalates, resign out of dignity — every single one of you.” Diana Guillerri said: “Now everyone got scared because the FBI came.”
She said she delivered thousands of signatures demanding action on school safety and accountability, arguing parents have repeatedly been kept in the dark about budgets and major decisions.
She also rejected speculation about the reasons for the investigation, saying families want facts — not rumors — about what is happening at the highest levels of the district.
Other speakers warned leadership turmoil could have direct consequences for students, particularly those who depend on specialized services.
A mother of a child in special education urged the board to consider how instability at the top could disrupt individualized education plans, staffing continuity and legally mandated support systems.
Several parents said they felt routinely ignored when raising concerns, accusing district leaders of listening only when a crisis erupts.
The FBI searches sent shockwaves through the nation’s second-largest school system and ignited a political firestorm among families already frustrated with district leadership.
Agents arrived at Carvalho’s home before dawn on Wednesday, some carrying rifles, and removed boxes of evidence, according to a neighbor who witnessed the operation.
At district headquarters, employees appeared confused about whether to report to work as federal officers entered the building.
Local advocacy group Parents Supporting Teachers called for the board of education to appoint an interim superintendent immediately “to ensure continuity of leadership and stability across the district.”
The group, which says it has 30,000 followers, said Carvalho failed to adhere to standards of transparency and accountability around the use of public money.
A second advocacy group called Schools Beyond Screens agreed, calling for his immediate suspension, “pending results from the FBI’s current investigation.”
Schools Beyond Screens, which wants to reform LA Unified’s use of technology, says it has 1,100 members.
The group is also calling for the district to audit all the tech contracts approved under Carvalho’s leadership of the district since 2022.
USC Rossier School of Education Dean Pedro Noguera said: “You can’t have someone who’s under investigation like this, leading the district.
“They’re in the middle of budget cuts and negotiations with unions. It’s a very challenging time for the district.
Noguera compared Carvalho’s position to that of former Chicago public schools superintendent Barbara Byrd-Bennet, who in 2015 resigned amid a bribery investigation. Bennet later pleaded guilty.
The Carvalho investigation appears to overlap with LAUSD’s dealings with AllHere, an artificial-intelligence company whose founder was charged with fraud in 2024.
The company created a chatbot used by the district, though authorities have not confirmed whether that contract is central to the probe or whether Carvalho himself is a target.
Carvalho, a former longtime superintendent in Miami-Dade County, has led LAUSD since 2022.
Authorities have not publicly detailed the allegations against him and the affidavit supporting the searches remains sealed.
LAUSD said in a statement: “We have been informed of law enforcement activity at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at the home of the Superintendent.
“The District is cooperating with the investigation and we do not have further information at this time.”
A joint statement from the LAUSD Board of Education added: “The LAUSD Board of Education understands that today’s news 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. Los Angeles Unified continues to stay focused on our responsibility to serve students and our families.”