Los Angeles Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on Paid Leave Amid FBI Investigation

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Superintendent Alberto Carvalho has been placed on paid administrative leave following FBI raids at his home and the district’s headquarters, officials announced Friday, February 27, 2026. The investigation centers around an undisclosed criminal matter, but authorities have not accused Carvalho of any wrongdoing.

FBI Investigation and Carvalho’s Leave

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education unanimously voted to place Carvalho on leave after two days of closed-door deliberations as reported by the New York Times. Andres Chait, currently the chief of school operations, has been named acting superintendent during Carvalho’s absence.

“Our focus remains clear: to ensure stability, continuity, and strong leadership for our students, families, and employees,” Chait stated according to the Los Angeles Times.

Investigation Linked to AllHere Chatbot Deal

Sources indicate the investigation is related to AllHere, a now-defunct education technology company that provided an AI chatbot to LAUSD. Carvalho initially championed the deal for the “Ed” chatbot in March 2024, a $3 million contract, but the district discontinued its use within three months due to the company’s financial collapse as detailed in the Los Angeles Times.

Joanna Smith-Griffin, the founder and CEO of AllHere, was subsequently charged with securities and wire fraud, as well as identity theft, and has pleaded not guilty.

Previous Concerns and Task Force

Carvalho previously stated he was not personally involved in the selection of AllHere. Following Smith-Griffin’s indictment, he announced plans to establish a task force to investigate the circumstances surrounding the LAUSD’s involvement with AllHere, but no public announcements regarding the task force’s findings have been made according to the Los Angeles Times.

Additional Property Searched and Past Accomplishments

The FBI also searched a property near Miami connected to Debra Kerr, a sales representative who previously worked with AllHere. Kerr claims she was not paid a $630,000 commission for securing the AllHere deal with LAUSD as reported by the Los Angeles Times. Reports suggest Kerr has longstanding ties to Carvalho from his time overseeing schools in Florida, and her son reportedly pitched the AllHere technology to LA school leaders.

Prior to the investigation, Carvalho had received praise for improvements in academic performance within LAUSD and previously in Miami-Dade County Public Schools, where he was named Superintendent of the Year in 2014. He was also knighted by Spain in 2021 for his function expanding Spanish-language programs.

Recent Challenges and COVID-19 Response

Carvalho assumed the role of LAUSD superintendent in 2022, during a period of increased funding from COVID-19 relief measures but also ongoing challenges related to pandemic-induced learning losses and declining enrollment. He also publicly disagreed with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis regarding mask mandates during the pandemic.