A country's productivity and economic competitiveness rely upon education, specifically postsecondary training which is fundamental to students' upward mobility in a thriving and progressive economic culture (Haunshek & Woessmann, 2012; Bailey et al., 2015). In order to maintain the economic stability of the United States for future generations to come, job qualifications will require that at least 71% of careers in the 21st century be accompanied by a vocational certificate or licensure, associate's degree, or bachelor's degree by the year 2020 (Lindsay et al., 2016). Despite several years of state and national efforts, the United States is not producing enough adults with the prescribed postsecondary credentials to meet the national workforce requirements (Bidwell, 2015). The purpose of this study was to provide purposeful insight into what approaches rural secondary schools in Kansas utilize to prepare their students for postsecondary programs aimed at skill development for a 21st century workforce. This study found there are challenges associated with attributes of a rural community that are still to be overcome. However, there are still things that can be impacted, and one of them is increasing postsecondary credential attainment rates with innovative school redesign practices. Career and Technical Education (CTE) must become a national priority in secondary and postsecondary education to ensure the United States will continue to compete on a global scale in the 21st century and beyond.