Federal agents conducted searches at the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) headquarters and the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Wednesday, marking a significant increase in scrutiny of the district’s administration. The FBI confirmed that these court-authenticated search warrants were executed in the morning but refrained from disclosing further details due to the sealed nature of the affidavits.
This action comes amidst growing legal and financial controversies affecting Carvalho and LAUSD. A civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges that LAUSD misappropriated $76.7 million from Proposition 28 funds, which were designated by voters in 2022 for the expansion of arts and music education by hiring new faculty. The suit claims that instead of fulfilling these requirements, the district utilized the funds to cover existing staff salaries.
Carvalho has publicly acknowledged the district’s use of Proposition 28 money for existing staff, stating, “The district prioritized the use of Prop 28 funds to cover existing staff as well as hire new staff.” This revelation has garnered strong backing from several prominent unions, including United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), Service Employees International Union Local 99, and Teamsters Local 572. UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz expressed her frustration, noting, “The superintendent pulling out a bulletin saying, ‘Oops, my bad,’ doesn’t work,” stressing the need for accountability in providing arts educators to students.
The issues surrounding LAUSD do not end with the Prop 28 allegations. The district has also received scrutiny for inconsistencies in attendance records across its middle schools, with 85% claiming perfect attendance, raising questions about tax expenditures of over $764,000. Moreover, LAUSD is facing criticism regarding a $3 million chatbot system from a vendor that is currently entangled in criminal fraud charges.
Prior to his tenure at LAUSD, Carvalho was the head of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where a report from the Office of the Inspector General identified a misallocation of $6 million intended for drivers and special education during his leadership. Additional findings indicated questionable oversight concerning a nonprofit foundation associated with donations, suggesting an appearance of impropriety.
In a separate incident earlier this year, Carvalho gained attention for opposing federal agents’ attempts to access two elementary schools in South Los Angeles, asserting that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had sent officers for wellness checks on unaccompanied migrant children, not for immigration enforcement. Carvalho, who arrived in the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant, vowed to protect students and stated, “I will put my job on the line easily.”
The warrants executed Wednesday signal a pivotal moment in the ongoing scrutiny of LAUSD’s leadership. Although the full breadth of the federal investigation remains unclear due to sealed affidavits, no charges have been filed as of now. This situation continues to unfold, highlighting a critical period for the district and its administration.