SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The leader of one of the largest Native American tribes in the U.S. called Wednesday for the governor of New Mexico to end efforts to fight a court ruling that orders improvements in education for members of his tribe and other vulnerable groups.

The comments from Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez came ahead of a court hearing next week in which Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will ask a state judge to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit representing Native American and Hispanic plaintiffs.

“The lawsuit needs to be pursued so Native students can be provided adequate education programs and services necessary to learn and thrive,” Nez said. “Our students deserve an educational environment that prioritizes their culture and unique needs. It is time for our Native students to have the same opportunities as other students.”

In 2018, a judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the state to address inequality in funding and academic outcomes for low-income, Native American and Hispanic students —which account for about 80% of children.

The lawsuit — initially filed against Lujan Grisham’s Republican predecessor Susana Martinez — threatens to wrestle control of policy away from the state Public Education Department and control of funding away from the state Legislature.

Lujan Grisham’s administration argues in a motion to dismiss the lawsuit that the state has increased funding for education, that future changes will take years and that administration officials should not be micromanaged by court orders.

“​Sweeping and transformational progress takes time, and the governor has not yielded in her unwavering commitment to as much,” said Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Meyers Sackett. “But an educational transformation should be overseen by the education professionals of the Public Education Department and the state Legislature, not a court.”

A judge will consider the request to dismiss the case at a hearing on Monday.

Navajo leaders contend that two years have passed and the state has not implemented the systemic change required by the order. They have said public schools serving Navajo students have not provided quality or useful technical assistance, guidance or training needed to assist in the implementation of special education programs.

“The court decision states that the state failed to abide by the New Mexico Indian Education Act, and this is an issue we cannot ignore,” Nez said.

The Navajo Nation has about 325,000 enrolled members, about 175,000 of whom live on the reservation that spans parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. (AP) — The Navajo Department of Health has reported 43 new cases of coronavirus on the Navajo Nation with one more known death.

That pushes the total of positive COVID-19 cases to 7,088 with the death toll at 336 as of Tuesday night.

Tribal officials said coronavirus-related cases continue to decrease due to the Navajo Nation’s daily curfew and requirement to wear a face mask.

The tribe also has resumed weekend lockdowns with businesses closed as the number of coronavirus cases off the reservation increases, most notably in Arizona.

Preliminary reports from 11 health care facilities indicate about 3,754 people have recovered from COVID-19 with one hospital report still pending.

Tribal health officials said 50,185 people have been tested so far.

The Navajo Nation stretches into northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico and southeastern Utah.

For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

But for some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.