Alberto Carvalho has won a four-year contract renewal as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second largest, with more than 500,000 students. The board vote was unanimous.

In a news release, board members cited gains in academic achievement and upgraded credit ratings. Carvalho’s leadership in the post-pandemic recovery, recent destructive wildfires, and voter approval of a $9-billion bond program to upgrade facilities was also noted.

Board president Scott Schmerelson praised Carvalho for his “steady leadership during challenging times” and expressed optimism that the district “can continue an upward trend in student performance.”

In the release, Carvalho credited “equity, innovation, and high expectations” for gains in student achievement.

Carvalho took the helm in Los Angeles in February 2022 after a 14-year tenure leading the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In 2018, he was awarded the Green-Garner Award, presented by the Council of the Great City Schools to the nation’s top urban educator.

In Philadelphia, the school board recently extended the contract of superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. to 2030, an additional two years.

“Under your leadership, we have seen measurable progress,” said school board president Reginald Streater during a recent board meeting, according to the Philadelphia Tribune. “The board firmly believes that with you at the helm, we can continue to accelerate progress and deliver on our commitment to Philadelphia students.”

Watlington has served as the superintendent of the School District of Philadelphia since 2022 after spending his career in North Carolina, his last post being superintendent of the Rowan-Salisbury district.

During his tenure leading the 198,299-student school district in Philadelphia, students have made gains in academic achievement, enrollment and graduation rates have increased, and dropout rates have decreased.