The department shall develop and provide a comprehensive academic education program that is accessible to all inmates and designed to meet the needs of the inmate population. The department shall encourage inmate participation in this program so that inmates may obtain those educational skills and credentials that are necessary to function more productively and responsibly both during incarceration and after release.
N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 7677.1