Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Under Investigation
In a surprising turn of events, Los Angeles schools superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid leave as federal authorities investigate the nation’s second-largest school district. This development follows FBI search warrants executed at Carvalho’s home and the district’s headquarters earlier this week.
The specific focus of the investigation remains undisclosed, and no allegations have been made against Carvalho, who took charge of the district in 2022 after leading Miami’s public schools. Following two days of non-public discussions, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education decided to put Carvalho on leave. Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, will temporarily step into the superintendent role.
Carvalho has yet to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, the FBI’s investigation also led them to a property in Florida associated with Debra Kerr, who once collaborated with AllHere, an education technology firm tied to Los Angeles schools. The Miami Herald reported that Kerr, who was unavailable for comment, had significant connections to Carvalho and played a role in promoting a controversial contract involving AllHere.
In 2024, Carvalho advocated for a partnership with AllHere for a $3 million AI chatbot initiative named “Ed,” aimed at assisting students. However, the district severed its ties with the company just months later, as AllHere faced bankruptcy and its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, faced charges of fraud and identity theft.
A district statement indicated cooperation with the investigation but offered no further details. Carvalho, according to the Los Angeles Times, denied involvement in selecting AllHere and had previously announced plans to review the project’s failures, though no updates have been provided publicly.
The 74, a news outlet, revealed that Kerr, an education tech salesperson, claimed she was owed $630,000 for facilitating the AllHere deal. The report highlighted her longstanding relationship with Carvalho and noted her son’s involvement with pitching the technology to LA school officials after Carvalho’s appointment.
Despite recent scrutiny, Carvalho has been lauded for enhancing academic performance in Los Angeles, earning accolades similar to those received during his tenure in Miami-Dade County, where he was named Superintendent of the Year in 2014. His efforts in expanding Spanish-language programs in Miami-Dade schools earned him knighthood from Spain in 2021.
Carvalho has also been vocal on social issues, particularly against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, following aggressive enforcement actions in Los Angeles. He took the helm in Los Angeles during a pivotal period, marked by substantial COVID-19 relief funding but ongoing challenges such as learning losses and enrollment declines. Previously, he clashed with Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis over mask mandates in schools during the pandemic.
Miami-Dade’s school system acknowledged the investigation involving Carvalho but refrained from commenting further on the matter.
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