Los Angeles schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, recognized for his achievements in improving academic performance and graduation rates, found himself at the center of a federal investigation when FBI agents searched his home on Wednesday. The search warrants were executed not only at Carvalho's residence but also at the headquarters of the Los Angeles Unified School District and a location in Miami, where he served as superintendent before moving to Los Angeles.
Although the authorities have not disclosed specific details regarding the investigation, it casts a shadow over Carvalho's otherwise commendable career. Born in Portugal, Carvalho's early life was marked by poverty. Arriving in the United States at the age of 17, he faced significant challenges, including living without legal status for a period. His early jobs in the U.S. included working as a dishwasher and day laborer before he graduated with a biology degree from Barry University in 1990 and transitioned into the education sector as a science teacher.
Carvalho swiftly ascended the administrative ladder in Miami, where he became a principal, then a district spokesperson, before being promoted to assistant superintendent and ultimately superintendent in 2008. His 14-year tenure at Miami-Dade County Public Schools was marked by notable improvements in graduation rates and academic performance, particularly among Black and Hispanic students. His leadership earned him several accolades, including the title of Superintendent of the Year from a national superintendents association in 2014 and a knighthood from Spain in 2021 for his work on expanding Spanish-language programs.
In 2021, during a particularly challenging time for the Los Angeles Unified School District, Carvalho was appointed superintendent. The district was facing both funding challenges and repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to serious declines in enrollment and learning losses. Under his leadership, the district has seen enhancements in academic performance over the past five years.
Carvalho has also been a vocal critic of the Trump administration's immigration policies, which resonate with his own experiences as an immigrant. He actively opposed immigration enforcement in and around Los Angeles, advocating for the safety and well-being of students and families in the district, which serves around 500,000 students, including approximately 30,000 immigrants.
In his efforts to protect immigrant families, Carvalho has implemented various measures, such as adjusting bus routes and distributing family preparedness packets that include crucial information on rights and emergency contacts. However, his career has not been without controversy. In 2020, he faced scrutiny for a $1.57 million donation solicited by a nonprofit he founded, involving an online education company that the school district had planned to use but ultimately decided against. An investigation found no violation of policies but claimed the situation created an "appearance of impropriety."
Additionally, Carvalho came under fire for exchanging inappropriate emails with a former reporter, a situation he later acknowledged. In more recent times, he promoted the development of an AI chatbot named "Ed" for district students, which led to the district allegedly paying the company $3 million. After the company collapsed and its founder faced severe charges, Carvalho stated he would form a task force to assess what had gone wrong, though no updates on such a task force have been provided.
The ongoing federal investigation casts a significant shadow on Carvalho's reputation, raising questions about his future as superintendent of the second-largest school district in the United States. As developments unfold, the broader implications on the district's operations and governance remain to be seen.
