BALTIMORE (AP) — The head of a Filipino teachers group says Baltimore schools followed the same hiring practices that led to a multi-million dollar federal fine against the Prince George’s County public school system.

The president of the Filipino Educators in Maryland Association says the Baltimore teachers paid the costs of coming to the United States. Anthony Japzon says applicants willingly paid the fees and school officials may not have known they were doing anything wrong.

The Baltimore school system has more than 500 Filipino teachers.

Baltimore school officials say they are looking into the issue.

A Labor Department spokesman says the department only comments on closed cases.

The Prince George’s County school system was ordered to repay more than $4 million to more than 1,000 foreign teachers and a $1.7 million fine.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)