The first step, once a potential applicant meets the minimum requirements, is the written exam. However, this written exam is held very infrequently. Cynthia Dizikes, Fewer Black Chicago Tribune (Mar. 12, 2010). A majority of fire departments in Firefighters in the ranks, Illinois are required to hold their qualifying exams approximately every three years. Id. However, Chicago is exempt from this requirement. past three exams have been Id. Chicago’s held in 2006, in 1995, and in 1985. Id. Statistics of candidates who sit for the test. As of 1995, African Americans represented twenty two percent of the Chicago Fire Department. Since 2005 that percentage has decreased to approximately eighteen percent, Id. though African Americans make up approximately thirty-four percent of the general population of the city. 1995, blacks represented 36 percent of those who took the Id. “In exam.” Id. However, only 2.2% of African Americans who took the test wound up in the highly qualified group, in comparison to 12.6% of whites who took the test. 2005 U.S. Lewis v. City of Chicago, Dist. LEXIS 42544 at *5 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 22, 2005). In contrast, 93.45% of whites and 72.3% of African Americans who took the test were considered at least qualified. at *11 Id. The 1995 required test and the beginning of Lewis v. City of Chicago. The test given in 1995 had a total possible score of 100. After the test was given, the City determined that a passing score was 65/100. Individuals with a score between 65 and 88 were determined to be qualified. 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS at *6. Lewis v. City of Chicago, Individuals who scored between 89 and 100 were considered well qualified. Id. In 1995, approximately 26,000 individuals took the written exam. Lewis v. City of 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS at *5. As a result, on March 21, 1997, eight plaintiffs filed a Chicago, class action suit against the Chicago Fire Department alleging the 1995 test had a disparate
The first step, once a potential applicant meets the minimum requirements, is the written exam. However, this written exam is held very infrequently. Cynthia Dizikes, Fewer Black Firefighters in the ranks, Chicago Tribune (Mar. 12, 2010). A majority of fire departments in Illinois are required to hold their qualifying exams approximately every three years. Id. However, Chicago is exempt from this requirement. Id. Chicago’s past three exams have been held in 2006, in 1995, and in 1985. Id. Statistics of candidates who sit for the test. As of 1995, African Americans represented twenty two percent of the Chicago Fire Department. Id. Since 2005 that percentage has decreased to approximately eighteen percent, though African Americans make up approximately thirty-four percent of the general population of the city. Id. “In 1995, blacks represented 36 percent of those who took the exam.” Id. However, only 2.2% of African Americans who took the test wound up in the highly qualified group, in comparison to 12.6% of whites who took the test. Lewis v. City of Chicago, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 42544 at *5 (N.D. Ill. Mar. 22, 2005). In contrast, 93.45% of whites and 72.3% of African Americans who took the test were considered at least qualified. Id. at *11 The 1995 required test and the beginning of Lewis v. City of Chicago. The test given in 1995 had a total possible score of 100. After the test was given, the City determined that a passing score was 65/100. Individuals with a score between 65 and 88 were determined to be qualified. Lewis v. City of Chicago, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS at *6. Individuals who scored between 89 and 100 were considered well qualified. Id. In 1995, approximately 26,000 individuals took the written exam. Lewis v. City of Chicago, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS at *5. As a result, on March 21, 1997, eight plaintiffs filed a class action suit against the Chicago Fire Department alleging the 1995 test had a disparate