LA Schools, an FBI Search, and a Failed AI Contract

Federal investigators executed judicially authorized search warrants at LAUSD headquarters, at the superintendent’s San Pedro home, and at a residence in Southwest Ranches, Florida, on February 25, 2026, a sweep that officials said was supported by sealed court affidavits. While the FBI declined to disclose the affidavit details, the operation was confirmed by the U.S. attorney’s office and by local field offices, and television footage showed agents at the properties.

The inquiry has been linked to AllHere, a now-defunct education technology firm that had been contracted to build an AI chatbot for the district. AllHere had secured a $6 million contract, and the district spent part of that sum before the project was halted; its founder, Joanna Smith-Griffin, was charged in federal court in November 2024. The company later entered bankruptcy, and the partial rollout of the chatbot called Ed never reached the promised scale, raising questions about procurement and oversight that investigators are now examining.

To preserve continuity, the Los Angeles Unified School District board voted unanimously and placed Superintendent Alberto Carvalho on paid administrative leave on February 27, 2026, and named Andres Chait acting superintendent. The board said it will continue oversight while cooperating with investigators, and district leaders emphasized that classrooms and student services must continue without interruption even as legal and administrative reviews proceed.

As of February 28, 2026, no criminal charges had been filed against Carvalho, and the board met behind closed doors for two days before its decision. District officials have indicated that the administrative leave is intended to allow an orderly review while protecting students’ education; outside auditors and legal counsel may be involved in any internal review.