The purpose of this study was to identify and assesse the challenges andrnopportunities of educational leadership in implementing school improvementrnprogram in secondary schools of West Arsi Zone, Oromia. In order to attain thernobjective of the study, descriptive survey method was applied. The study wasrncarried out in six secondary and two preparatory schools in five woredas whichrnwere selected by simple random sampling. The respondents were also selectedrnby using simple random sampling techniques. The study involved 195 teachers,rn40 department heads, 8 principals, 18 vice principals, 40 School ImprovementrnCommittee, 5 Woreda Education Office heads and 5 supervisors. Questionnaires,rninterviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews were applied asrninstruments to collect information. The data gathered through questionnaires werernanalyzed quantitatively by statistical tools such as percentage, frequency count,rnmean scores, Kuruskal-Wallis test using SPSS (mean rank chi-square, degree ofrnfreedom, and P-value). Interviews, focus group discussion, and document reviewsrnwere analyzed qualitatively using the content analysis technique. Based on thernanalysis, the findings show that resource constraints were one of the majorrnchallenges in implementing school improvement program in secondary schools.rnBesides, capacity of principals, tradition and norms, socio-economic condition, thernresistance to change were found to be among the serious challenges of thernschools. The study also indicated that there were a good possibilities of extemalrnenvironment to implement School Improvement Program. But the current practicernof school leaders were only moderately p erformed. Regarding the domain ofrnSchool Improvement Program, school leaders' awareness was high on leamingrnand teaching practice, on strategic vision, in evaluating student's achievement.rnEven though, there was lack of implementation due to training on the area ofrneducational leadership courses. The recommendation given was that the regionalrneducation bureau, zonal and woreda education office should work with donorrnorganization and community at large to bring more financial resources, to buildrnthe capacity of principals leadership on the basis of their needs analysis.