With Alberto Carvalho’s departure official and Andrés Chait’s contract set to expire June 30, growing speculation is mounting over whether LAUSD will promote from within or launch a national search for its next superintendent.
The Alberto Carvalho era has come to an end. In the absence of official information, and amid a wave of speculation, teachers, administrators, and parents across LAUSD are questioning whether Acting Superintendent Andrés Chait will be named the district’s permanent leader.
The speculation intensified following LAUSD’s official statement:
“The Board remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring stability, continuity, and continued progress through strong leadership. Our focus remains unchanged: providing every student with a high quality education, supporting our dedicated workforce, and maintaining the trust of the communities we serve.”
The district also stated:
“Andrés Chait will remain acting superintendent until a permanent decision is made.”
Speaking with reporters Monday, Chait emphasized that despite the leadership transition, district operations will continue as usual, including summer classes and programs that began this week.
The challenge is that Chait’s current contract expires on June 30, making it increasingly important for the Board to clarify its plans. The only contract approval publicly available from the LAUSD Board lists June 30, 2026, as the end date for his appointment as Acting Superintendent. Yet the district’s latest press release indicates that Chait will remain in the role until a permanent decision is reached.
After the turbulent experience surrounding Carvalho’s tenure and the numerous challenges facing the district, many stakeholders are looking for greater certainty.
Some insiders already consider Chait’s appointment all but certain. Others are eager for more information, while a smaller group has even called for the return of former Superintendent Austin Beutner.
Whether Chait ultimately becomes permanent superintendent will depend on the Board’s selection process. Historically, LAUSD has at times conducted national searches and hired candidates from outside the district. In other cases, it has promoted leaders from within.
Chait enters the conversation with several advantages:
*Nearly three decades of experience within LAUSD.
*Leadership continuity during a period of uncertainty.
*Deep familiarity with district operations, budgets, labor negotiations, and school communities.
*Experience serving as Acting Superintendent since February 2026.
At the same time, the Board could decide that the controversy surrounding Carvalho’s departure warrants a nationwide search for external candidates. As the second largest school district in the United States, LAUSD’s superintendent selection process is often highly visible and politically charged.
For now, the LAUSD Board of Education insists that the district’s mission remains unchanged.
“We always maintain a focus on our students, and so regardless of whatever may be going on with transitions in leadership, it’s really about the kids and making sure that we have programs that students and families can take part in,” Chait said.
For now, the question remains unanswered. But with Chait’s contract set to expire and pressure mounting for stability, the Board may not have much time before it must reveal its long term plans for the district’s leadership.
