The U. S. K-12 system today has been confronted with the challenge of educating its ever-increasing population of English Learners (ELs) on academic content while teaching a new language. While the challenge has always been to have all students reading at grade-level by the third grade, today, this challenge has been complicated by the large population of ELs needing to first acquire their second language (L2), in this case, the English language. While current research varies regarding the time required, it is evident that significant time would be necessary to do so. This research explored the impact of an early intervention program in a supportive environment, with opportunities for learning through play as well as the acknowledgement of and consideration for sociocultural influences that affect learning. The main research questions that were investigated were: 1) How does the environment of "play" influence behaviors, academic language and learning?, 2) What are the parents' and teachers' perceptions about child-centered instructional approaches and how they influence academic achievement for English Learners (ELs) in the primary grades?, and 3) What are the parents' and teachers' perspectives of the factors (parents, community, and school factors) affecting student learning in the environment of play? With an instrumental, single-case, case study design, the study used program documents, teacher and parent interviews, and focus groups to provide an intensive description of the bounded social phenomena found among students of a kindergarten program, and later, an analysis of the same.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201
