Federal agents raided the home and office of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as part of a corruption investigation involving a $6 million technology contract. The FBI operation targeted the nation's second-largest school district's top administrator over alleged improper ties to a tech startup.
The investigation focuses on a lucrative contract between LAUSD and a technology company whose staff had personal connections to Carvalho. Sources familiar with the matter indicate federal prosecutors are examining whether the superintendent used his position to steer the multimillion-dollar deal to the startup improperly. The exact nature of these connections and the timeline of the contract award remain under federal scrutiny.
The raids mark a dramatic escalation in what appears to be a broader federal probe into potential misconduct within the massive school system. LAUSD serves more than 600,000 students across Los Angeles County, making any corruption at the top level a matter of significant public concern. The district operates with an annual budget exceeding $7 billion and employs tens of thousands of staff members.
Carvalho previously served as superintendent in Miami-Dade County Schools before taking the helm of LAUSD in 2022. He has built a reputation as an education reformer focused on improving academic outcomes and closing achievement gaps. His hiring was seen as a major coup for Los Angeles, which had struggled with leadership instability for years.
The tech startup at the center of the investigation has not been publicly identified, though federal agents are reportedly examining the procurement process that led to the contract award. District officials have declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, citing the active federal probe. The company's specific services and the contract's implementation status remain unclear.
The probe could have far-reaching implications for one of America's largest school districts and may influence how other major urban districts handle vendor relationships. Federal investigators have not yet filed charges against Carvalho or anyone else connected to the case. The superintendent's future with the district now hangs in the balance as the investigation unfolds.