Alberto Carvalho has resigned as superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, ending a tenure marked by controversy surrounding a failed artificial intelligence contract that triggered a federal investigation. The move comes five months after the FBI executed search warrants at his home and district headquarters.
Carvalho was placed on administrative leave following the February raids, which also targeted a property near Miami connected to the company at the center of the inquiry. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and had requested reinstatement to lead the nation's second-largest school system, which enrolls more than 500,000 students.
The specific focus of the FBI investigation has not been disclosed, and prosecutors have not filed charges against Carvalho or accused him of any crimes. His legal team issued a statement asserting that he had always acted within the law and in students' best interests.
The investigation appears rooted in LA Unified's troubled relationship with AllHere, an education technology startup. In 2024, Carvalho championed an agreement with the company to deploy an AI chatbot called "Ed" designed to assist students. The district paid $3 million for the platform but terminated the contract after about three months.
AllHere subsequently filed for bankruptcy. In the months that followed, founder Joanna Smith-Griffin was indicted on charges including securities fraud, wire fraud, and identity theft. The FBI search near Miami targeted a property connected to Debra Kerr, who had previously worked with AllHere.
Carvalho denied direct involvement in selecting AllHere as a vendor, according to reporting at the time. His representation stated that while the government's investigation remained ongoing, no evidence had emerged suggesting he violated federal law.
Andrés Chait, who assumed the role of acting superintendent after Carvalho's leave, will continue in that capacity while the school board searches for a permanent replacement. The board released a statement focusing on educational priorities rather than the circumstances of Carvalho's departure, emphasizing commitment to student achievement and community trust.
Carvalho arrived in Los Angeles in 2022 after leading Miami's public school system. The resignation ends his attempt to restore his position and closes a chapter defined by questions about procurement decisions at the sprawling district.
Author James Rodriguez: "The AllHere debacle exposed serious vetting problems in LA Unified's tech purchasing process, and Carvalho's exit suggests the fallout wasn't finished."
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