LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid leave as part of a federal investigation, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education announced on Friday. This decision comes after the FBI executed search warrants at his residence and the district’s headquarters earlier this week.
No details have been provided regarding the nature of the investigation involving the nation’s second-largest school district, which serves over 500,000 students.
Carvalho assumed the role of superintendent in 2022, having previously led the public schools in Miami.
Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, will assume the responsibilities in Carvalho’s absence, according to the district.
Carvalho has not yet responded to requests for comment. In addition to his home and the district’s headquarters, the FBI also searched a third location near Miami on Wednesday. The property was reportedly owned by Debra Kerr, who had ties to the collapsed education technology company AllHere.
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In 2024, Carvalho was involved in a deal with AllHere for an AI chatbot named “Ed” to assist students. However, after paying the company $3 million and encountering difficulties, the district terminated its contract with AllHere, which subsequently filed for bankruptcy. The founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, faced legal charges related to fraud.
The school district stated that it is cooperating with the ongoing investigation but has no further information at this time.
Carvalho denied involvement in selecting AllHere, and he promised to investigate the issues surrounding the failed project. However, no public updates have been provided since then.
Kerr, a salesperson in education technology, claimed she was not paid her commission for her work with the LA district and had connections to Carvalho from their time in Florida.
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Carvalho has received praise for his efforts to improve academic performance in both Los Angeles and Miami. His work in expanding Spanish-language programs in Florida led to his knighthood by Spain in 2021.
Since joining Los Angeles, Carvalho has been critical of immigration policies and has faced challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the district.
The Miami-Dade school system stated that it is aware of the investigation but has no further comment at this time.
Watson reported from San Diego.
