There shall be a petition, an answer, and, if new material is alleged in the answer, a reply thereto. No other pleading will be permitted, except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section.

The commissioner may permit or require the service and filing of additional pleadings upon good cause shown and upon such terms and conditions as the commissioner may specify. A party seeking to file an additional pleading shall submit an application to the Office of Counsel, at the address specified in section 275.9(a) of this Part, which shall state the reason(s) why such pleading is necessary and include a copy of the proposed pleading, together with proof of service of the application and the proposed pleading upon all parties in accordance with section 275.8(b) of this Part. The provisions of this subdivision shall not apply to a charter school location/co-location appeal pursuant to section 276.11 of this Title.

All pleadings and affidavits shall be submitted in typewritten form, double spaced, on white paper 8½ by 11 inches in size, and shall set forth the allegations of the parties in numbered paragraphs. Such pleadings shall be addressed “To the Commissioner of Education”, and shall be filed in accordance with the provisions of section 275.9 of this Part.

Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (c) of this section, in an appeal regarding a homeless child's or youth's access to a free, appropriate public education pursuant to section 100.2(x) of this Title, if the petitioner is the parent or guardian of a homeless child or youth or unaccompanied youth as defined in section 100.2(x) of this Title, and if such petitioner submits a form petition prescribed by the commissioner, the pleadings shall be legible but shall not be required to be submitted in typewritten form.