diff --git a/bases/rsptx/admin_server_api/routers/instructor.py b/bases/rsptx/admin_server_api/routers/instructor.py
index 2f615b0b8..7859c86d1 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/admin_server_api/routers/instructor.py
+++ b/bases/rsptx/admin_server_api/routers/instructor.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     create_assignment,
     create_course_instructor,
     create_course,
+    course_attr_is_true,
     create_course_attribute,
     create_instructor_course_entry,
     create_invoice_request,
@@ -426,7 +427,7 @@ async def get_course_settings(
         "groupsize": course_attrs.get("groupsize", "3"),
         "enable_async_llm_modes": course_attrs.get("enable_async_llm_modes", "false"),
         "use_pretext_student_pages": str(
-            course_attrs.get("use_pretext_student_pages", "false")
+            course_attr_is_true(course_attrs, "use_pretext_student_pages", default=True)
         ).lower(),
     }
 
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/routers/student.py b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/routers/student.py
index e2f8ff896..20c91b9e2 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/routers/student.py
+++ b/bases/rsptx/assignment_server_api/routers/student.py
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 from rsptx.logging import rslogger
 from rsptx.db.crud import (
     create_useinfo_entry,
+    course_attr_is_true,
     fetch_assignments,
     fetch_all_assignment_stats,
     fetch_all_grades_for_assignment,
@@ -173,8 +174,8 @@ def sort_key(assignment):
     for a in assignments:
         visibility_map[a.id] = is_assignment_visible_to_students(a)
 
-    use_pretext_student_pages = (
-        str(course_attrs.get("use_pretext_student_pages", "false")).lower() == "true"
+    use_pretext_student_pages = course_attr_is_true(
+        course_attrs, "use_pretext_student_pages", default=True
     )
     if use_pretext_student_pages:
         book_path = safe_join(
@@ -942,8 +943,8 @@ async def doAssignment(
     if timestamp > deadline:
         overdue = True
 
-    use_pretext_student_pages = (
-        str(course_attrs.get("use_pretext_student_pages", "false")).lower() == "true"
+    use_pretext_student_pages = course_attr_is_true(
+        course_attrs, "use_pretext_student_pages", default=True
     )
     if use_pretext_student_pages:
         book_path = safe_join(
diff --git a/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/course.py b/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/course.py
index 2b17be06c..78f136005 100644
--- a/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/course.py
+++ b/bases/rsptx/book_server_api/routers/course.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 from rsptx.db.crud import (
     fetch_assignments,
     fetch_all_assignment_stats,
+    course_attr_is_true,
     fetch_course,
     fetch_all_course_attributes,
     fetch_courses_for_user,
@@ -147,8 +148,8 @@ def sort_key(assignment):
     for a in assignments:
         visibility_map[a.id] = is_assignment_visible_to_students(a)
 
-    use_pretext_student_pages = (
-        str(attrs.get("use_pretext_student_pages", "false")).lower() == "true"
+    use_pretext_student_pages = course_attr_is_true(
+        attrs, "use_pretext_student_pages", default=True
     )
     if use_pretext_student_pages:
         book_path = safe_join(
diff --git a/components/rsptx/db/crud/__init__.py b/components/rsptx/db/crud/__init__.py
index 990e4fb88..d63a82dba 100644
--- a/components/rsptx/db/crud/__init__.py
+++ b/components/rsptx/db/crud/__init__.py
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
 from .course_attrs import (
     copy_course_attributes,
     create_course_attribute,
+    course_attr_is_true,
     fetch_all_course_attributes,
     fetch_one_course_attribute,
     get_course_origin,
@@ -420,6 +421,7 @@
 __all__ += [
     "copy_course_attributes",
     "create_course_attribute",
+    "course_attr_is_true",
     "fetch_all_course_attributes",
     "fetch_one_course_attribute",
     "get_course_origin",
diff --git a/components/rsptx/db/crud/course_attrs.py b/components/rsptx/db/crud/course_attrs.py
index 6dba6d26c..94976470d 100644
--- a/components/rsptx/db/crud/course_attrs.py
+++ b/components/rsptx/db/crud/course_attrs.py
@@ -19,6 +19,17 @@ async def fetch_all_course_attributes(course_id: int) -> dict:
         return {row.attr: row.value for row in res.scalars().fetchall()}
 
 
+def course_attr_is_true(course_attrs: dict, attr: str, default: bool = False) -> bool:
+    """Return ``True`` when a course attribute is set to the string ``true``.
+
+    :param course_attrs: Dictionary of course attributes.
+    :param attr: Attribute name to inspect.
+    :param default: Default value when the attribute is missing.
+    :return: ``True`` when the attribute value evaluates to the string ``true``.
+    """
+    return str(course_attrs.get(attr, str(default))).lower() == "true"
+
+
 async def fetch_one_course_attribute():
     """
     Fetch a single course attribute (not implemented)