diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index f1c0ee8..df5f8b9 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "siteforge",
-  "version": "2.11.1",
+  "version": "2.11.2",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "siteforge",
-      "version": "2.11.1",
+      "version": "2.11.2",
       "dependencies": {
         "@aws-sdk/client-s3": "^3.1135.0",
         "@dnd-kit/core": "^6.3.1",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c39a0b0..1b407fe 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "siteforge",
   "private": true,
-  "version": "2.11.1",
+  "version": "2.11.2",
   "type": "module",
   "scripts": {
     "dev": "vite",
diff --git a/server/study-helpers.js b/server/study-helpers.js
index e685148..d94c57b 100644
--- a/server/study-helpers.js
+++ b/server/study-helpers.js
@@ -225,17 +225,18 @@ export async function backfillCompletedStudies() {
   return updated
 }
 
-// Discussion (community posts, replies, likes and lesson comments) is only open while a
-// study is active. Finished and planned studies are closed.
+// Discussion (community posts, replies, likes and lesson comments) is open for any study that
+// has started: the current study and finished ones, so students who take a study later can
+// still talk with each other. Only planned studies (not started yet) are closed.
 export function isStudyDiscussionOpen(studySlug) {
   const normalized = normalizeStudySlug(studySlug)
   const studies = state.cachedSiteContent?.studies
   if (!normalized || !Array.isArray(studies)) return false
   const study = studies.find(item => normalizeStudySlug(item?.slug) === normalized)
-  return Boolean(study) && getEffectiveStudyStatus(study) === 'active'
+  return Boolean(study) && getEffectiveStudyStatus(study) !== 'planned'
 }
 
-export const DISCUSSION_CLOSED_MESSAGE = 'Discussion is only open while a study is active.'
+export const DISCUSSION_CLOSED_MESSAGE = 'Discussion opens once this study has started.'
 
 export function findStudyUserById(userId) {
   if (typeof userId !== 'string' || !userId.trim()) return undefined
diff --git a/src/studyPages.tsx b/src/studyPages.tsx
index ad04070..c71daa1 100644
--- a/src/studyPages.tsx
+++ b/src/studyPages.tsx
@@ -212,9 +212,11 @@ function getEffectiveStudyStatus(study: StudyProgram): 'active' | 'planned' | 'c
   return 'active'
 }
 
-// Discussion (community board and lesson comments) is only open while a study is active.
+// Discussion (community board and lesson comments) is open for every study that has started,
+// including finished ones, so students who take a study later can still join in. Planned
+// studies are closed until they begin.
 function isDiscussionOpen(study: StudyProgram | undefined): boolean {
-  return Boolean(study) && getEffectiveStudyStatus(study as StudyProgram) === 'active'
+  return Boolean(study) && getEffectiveStudyStatus(study as StudyProgram) !== 'planned'
 }
 
 function getNextReleaseLabel(study: StudyProgram): string {
@@ -1698,7 +1700,7 @@ export function ColossiansStudyIndexPage({ content }: Props) {
             )}
             {allLessonsDone && <Link to="/study/account" className="btn-secondary">🏅 My Certificate</Link>}
             {enrolled && <Link to={`/study/${study.slug}/notes`} className="btn-secondary">My Notes</Link>}
-            {enrolled && studyStatus === 'active' && <Link to={`/study/${study.slug}/community`} className="btn-secondary">Community</Link>}
+            {enrolled && studyStatus !== 'planned' && <Link to={`/study/${study.slug}/community`} className="btn-secondary">Community</Link>}
             {auth.authenticated && <Link to="/study/account" className="btn-secondary">My Account</Link>}
           </div>
           {enrollMessage && <p className="study-note-status" style={{ marginTop: '0.75rem' }}>{enrollMessage}</p>}
@@ -4204,12 +4206,12 @@ export function StudyDiscussionHubPage({ content }: Props) {
         <div className="section-inner study-course-hero-inner">
           <p className="eyebrow">Student Community</p>
           <h1>Study Discussion</h1>
-          <p className="study-course-hero-copy">Pick an active study to see what other students are saying, ask questions, and share what God is teaching you. Discussion is open while a study is active.</p>
+          <p className="study-course-hero-copy">Pick a study track to see what other students are saying, ask questions, and share what God is teaching you.</p>
         </div>
       </section>
       <section className="section-inner" style={{ paddingTop: '1rem', paddingBottom: '4rem' }}>
         {openDiscussionStudies.length === 0 ? (
-          <p className="study-detail-copy">Discussion opens while a study is active. There are no active studies right now — check back when the next one starts.</p>
+          <p className="study-detail-copy">There are no studies open for discussion yet. Check back when the next one starts.</p>
         ) : (
           <div className="study-module-list">
             {openDiscussionStudies.map(study => {
@@ -4294,8 +4296,8 @@ export function StudyCommunityPage({ content }: Props) {
         <div className="auth-shell auth-shell--single">
           <div className="auth-card auth-card--center">
             <p className="eyebrow">{study.title}</p>
-            <h1>Discussion Is Closed</h1>
-            <p>Discussion is only open while a study is active, and this study isn't active right now.</p>
+            <h1>Discussion Isn't Open Yet</h1>
+            <p>Discussion opens once this study has started. Check back when it begins.</p>
             <div className="study-signup-actions">
               <Link to={`/study/${study.slug}`} className="btn-primary">Back to Study</Link>
             </div>
diff --git a/test/study-completion.test.js b/test/study-completion.test.js
index c0c90ac..6c78579 100644
--- a/test/study-completion.test.js
+++ b/test/study-completion.test.js
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test('re-engagement emails skip students whose only study is finished', async ()
   assert.deepEqual(sent, ['c@d.co'])
 })
 
-test('discussion is open only for active studies', async () => {
+test('discussion is open for active and finished studies, closed only for planned ones', async () => {
   const { isStudyDiscussionOpen } = await import('../server/study-helpers.js')
   const past = '2020-01-01T00:00:00Z'
   const future = '2099-01-01T00:00:00Z'
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ test('discussion is open only for active studies', async () => {
     ],
   }
   assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('live'), true)
-  assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('done'), false)
-  assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('auto-done'), false)
+  assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('done'), true)
+  assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('auto-done'), true)
   assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('soon'), false)
   assert.equal(isStudyDiscussionOpen('missing'), false)
 })