Los Angeles school superintendent placed on paid leave in federal probe
Los Angeles school superintendent placed on paid leave in federal probe
Los Angeles — Alberto Carvalho, the superintendent of the city’s public schools, was placed on paid leave Friday, two days after the FBI executed search warrants at his residence and the district’s headquarters. The investigation into the district, which enrolls over 500,000 students, has not yet revealed specifics about its focus or whether Carvalho is implicated. The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education approved the leave unanimously, following private deliberations, to maintain operational continuity. A statement from the board emphasized the move was meant to safeguard the district’s educational mission.
Andres Chait, the chief of school operations, has been appointed as the interim superintendent. “Our focus remains clear: to ensure stability, continuity, and strong leadership for our students, families, and employees,” Chait stated in a public declaration.
“Our focus remains clear: to ensure stability, continuity, and strong leadership for our students, families, and employees,” Chait said in a statement.
Carvalho assumed his role in 2022, having previously led Miami-Dade County Public Schools. He was honored as Superintendent of the Year by the national superintendents association in 2014 and received an honorary knighthood from Spain in 2021 for his contributions to expanding Spanish-language education in Florida.
The FBI’s search in Miami targeted a property linked to Debra Kerr, an education technology sales representative. Kerr is said to have connected AllHere, a now-bankrupt tech firm, with Los Angeles schools. The district had a contract with AllHere before its collapse, which led to the indictment of its founder for fraud. Carvalho had promoted the partnership in 2024, highlighting the AI chatbot “Ed,” but terminated the deal after three months and paying $3 million.
Months after the partnership ended, Joanna Smith-Griffin, AllHere’s founder, faced charges of securities fraud and wire fraud. Carvalho denied personal involvement in selecting the company but promised to form a task force to analyze the situation, a plan that has not been publicly updated since.
Kerr, who was not paid her $630,000 commission for closing the deal, had long-standing ties with Carvalho from his time in Miami. The 74 reported her son, who worked for AllHere, presented the technology to LA school officials after Carvalho took over the district. The Associated Press could not reach Kerr for comment.
Over the past five years, Carvalho has been recognized for boosting academic performance in Los Angeles. The district benefited from pandemic relief funds but still grappled with learning setbacks and enrollment declines during his tenure. He also became a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration policies, particularly after raids in the region last year.
Carvalho’s previous role in Miami saw him clash with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over mask mandates. The Miami-Dade school system acknowledged the investigation but provided no further remarks at the time. His transition to California coincided with a critical period for LA schools, as they navigated post-pandemic challenges while leveraging federal and state funding.