Officials of the Pittsburgh Public Schools yesterday said they would consider hiring outside parties to provide the extra learning time at accelerated learning academies if a new contract with teachers isn't quickly reached.

Lisa Fischetti, the district's chief of staff, said the option isn't ideal but would allow Superintendent Mark Roosevelt to offer the extra class time that he's billed as an important component of the eight new schools.

The possibility could raise the pressure on teachers and other professional employees in the 3,125-member bargaining unit.

Ms. Fischetti noted a variety of organizations already offer after-school programs to city students. The education group A+ Schools details more than 200 after-school, Saturday and summer school programs on the Web site www.pghafterschool.com.

The city school district runs some after-school and summer school programs in its buildings, while other programs are independently operated by churches, civic groups and neighborhood organizations.

Some of the outside programs are free to students. Others charge a fee but may offer scholarships. The programs range from the academic, offering students help with homework, to those focusing on recreation, athletics or special interests, according to A+ Schools.

Ms. Fischetti didn't say who the district might tap to provide the 45 extra minutes of daily instruction at the accelerated learning academies, which Mr. Roosevelt has proposed opening next school year for about 4,000 of the district's 31,000 students.

But she said the district would want the time devoted to reading and math, the subjects of greatest concern to the district, and would want the extra time fully integrated into the schools' curriculum. Because of three years of low test scores in those subjects, the state could take over the district in September.

The academies would have 10 more class days than other schools. Ms. Fischetti said outside parties could be used to cover the additional days, too.

Mr. Roosevelt said there has been discussion, but no decisions, about bringing in outside groups or finding another way to provide the added school time he's promised for the academies.

"First of all, we hope we don't come to this. ... But we may have to go there," he said.

Mr. Roosevelt still hopes a contract with Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers can be ratified soon enough to meet his original goal -- having district teachers provide the extra learning time. But he has said the contract must be in place by April 21 if the district is to have enough time to post academy teaching positions and hire the staff.

School board member Patrick Dowd, chairman of the marketing and communications committee, said he's willing to entertain the idea of outside help to keep Mr. Roosevelt's education reform agenda on track.

"I really hope we can find a solution, any solution, to make this happen, whether it involves our teachers or not," he said.

The school board voted March 29 to accept a two-year contract, but union members voted down the proposal against the advice of their leadership. It's unclear what will happen next; the union is weighing its options.

Among other terms, the contract would have paid academy teachers an additional $6,300 annually for working a longer school day and extended year. As teachers continue working under the old contract, Mr. Roosevelt must abide by the traditional school calendar. That means teachers can work only traditional school hours, imperiling some of the academies' most important features.

The academies play a central role in Mr. Roosevelt's district reorganization plan, which also includes closing 22 schools and expanding 10 elementary schools. He has said the plan will concentrate students in better-performing schools.

Mr. Roosevelt is creating the academies out of eight low-performing schools serving some of the district's most disadvantaged students.

More money per pupil will be spent at the academies than at other schools, including $3.6 million for a special America's Choice curriculum.

The America's Choice program, which includes "ramp-up" math and reading programs for lagging students, can be implemented without an extended day or year.

But Mr. Roosevelt is determined to include the extra learning time because he's promised it to students and parents.