As a sequel to The Moral Imperative of School Leadership published in 2003, The Moral
Imperative Realized by Michael Fullan (2011) addresses others' mischaracterization of the
concept of moral imperative as a reference to “pure life, religion, [and] the spiritual” (p. ix) and
explains that this construct really pertains to seeking “a better society for individuals and for the
collective.” In education, a moral imperative refers to raised performance standards for personnel
and learners, and schools working to eradicate learning disparities for all children, “regardless of
[the learners’] background[s]” (p. ix). Throughout his book, Fullan tries to illustrate the
applicability of the moral imperative to the nation's emphasis on "stringent standards.