A New York consulting firm has called for significant changes to the Pittsburgh Public Schools' magnet programs, saying current offerings "are not adequately addressing economic demand or realities."

"There are gaps in magnet programming in the areas of health care, bio-technology, financial services, engineering, technology, computer science and critical languages," Metis Associates said in its report.

The firm, which the school board retained in March at a cost of up to $221,000, also cited disturbing variations in magnet quality and principals' commitment to the programs.

It said the district's magnet office should be better staffed and magnet offerings better marketed, and it faulted officials for not regularly evaluating magnet operations. It said the district needs a new vision for the magnets' role and better program leadership.

At the same time, the firm said it found evidence that students in magnet programs have better performance, overall, than students who aren't in the programs.

Magnets allow students to explore special interests, from languages to the arts to law and public service. The district offers 16 magnets at 27 sites.

Metis provided its report to the school board education committee last week. The district said it agreed with many of the findings, would work to implement them and already was in the process of making some improvements.

For example, the district is opening a new science and technology school in Oakland next fall and recently upgraded Pittsburgh Carrick High School's business and finance program to magnet status for 2009-10.

In a change for the 2009-10 registration period that begins Nov. 1, students will be able to apply for multiple magnets on a single form. In another change, applications will be processed by central administrators, not schools.

Magnet offerings are detailed in a revamped "offerings and options" booklet. The booklet and application are available on the district Web site at www.pps.k12.pa.us, and a series of open house events is planned next month.

Superintendent Mark Roosevelt cited the need to overhaul magnet programs as long ago as March 2006. In an interview last week, he said many had lost their "academic edge."

He cited a need to study whether Hindi, Mandarin or other languages should be added to the mix of language offerings. He also said the district should examine its classical and traditional academies to determine whether they still live up to their names.

The district, which established its magnet programs following a 1971 segregation lawsuit, still reserves up to half of the slots at each site for black students. Because of a Supreme Court ruling last year that struck down race-based enrollment in Seattle and Jefferson County, Ky., the school board has voted to develop a new magnet enrollment plan for 2010-11.

To prepare its report, Metis reviewed research on magnet programs, visited the city's magnet sites and surveyed staff, parents and students.

Metis said magnet offerings should be revamped to meet economic needs and students' and parents' interests. The firm said some magnets have had a difficult time recruiting qualified teachers and cited a general lack of rigor in magnet curricula.