diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/toggles.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/toggles.py
index a1a342e7bb4f..1cd39a2da966 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/toggles.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/toggles.py
@@ -81,6 +81,19 @@
     f'{WAFFLE_FLAG_NAMESPACE}.disable_navigation_sidebar', __name__
 )
 
+# .. toggle_name: courseware.disable_default_open_discussion_sidebar
+# .. toggle_implementation: WaffleFlag
+# .. toggle_default: False
+# .. toggle_description: Disable opening the discussion sidebar by default on Learning MFE.
+# .. toggle_use_cases: temporary
+# .. toggle_creation_date: 2024-03-13
+# .. toggle_target_removal_date: None
+# .. toggle_tickets: AXIMST-629
+# .. toggle_warning: None.
+COURSEWARE_MICROFRONTEND_DISCUSSION_SIDEBAR_OPEN_DISABLED = CourseWaffleFlag(
+    f'{WAFFLE_FLAG_NAMESPACE}.disable_default_open_discussion_sidebar', __name__
+)
+
 # .. toggle_name: courseware.mfe_progress_milestones_streak_discount_enabled
 # .. toggle_implementation: CourseWaffleFlag
 # .. toggle_default: False
@@ -206,3 +219,10 @@ def courseware_mfe_sidebar_is_disabled(course_key=None):
     Return whether the courseware.disable_navigation_sidebar flag is on.
     """
     return COURSEWARE_MICROFRONTEND_SIDEBAR_DISABLED.is_enabled(course_key)
+
+
+def courseware_mfe_discussion_sidebar_open_is_disabled(course_key=None):
+    """
+    Return whether the courseware.disable_default_open_discussion_sidebar flag is on.
+    """
+    return COURSEWARE_MICROFRONTEND_DISCUSSION_SIDEBAR_OPEN_DISABLED.is_enabled(course_key)
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/views.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/views.py
index 163bc5807ce0..582355752dd4 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/views.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/views/views.py
@@ -88,8 +88,9 @@
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.permissions import MASQUERADE_AS_STUDENT, VIEW_COURSE_HOME, VIEW_COURSEWARE
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.toggles import (
     course_is_invitation_only,
+    courseware_mfe_discussion_sidebar_open_is_disabled,
     courseware_mfe_search_is_enabled,
-    courseware_mfe_sidebar_is_disabled
+    courseware_mfe_sidebar_is_disabled,
 )
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.user_state_client import DjangoXBlockUserStateClient
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.utils import (
@@ -2285,3 +2286,15 @@ def courseware_mfe_sidebar_enabled(request, course_id=None):
     return JsonResponse({
         "enabled": not courseware_mfe_sidebar_is_disabled(course_key)
     })
+
+
+@api_view(['GET'])
+def courseware_mfe_discussion_sidebar_open_is_enabled(request, course_id=None):
+    """
+    Simple GET endpoint to expose whether the course may open discussion sidebar by default.
+    """
+    course_key = CourseKey.from_string(course_id) if course_id else None
+
+    return JsonResponse({
+        "enabled": not courseware_mfe_discussion_sidebar_open_is_disabled(course_key)
+    })
diff --git a/lms/urls.py b/lms/urls.py
index 002c0e2c7e39..7b6bf05dbc37 100644
--- a/lms/urls.py
+++ b/lms/urls.py
@@ -754,6 +754,11 @@
         courseware_views.courseware_mfe_sidebar_enabled,
         name='courseware_sidebar_enabled_view',
     ),
+    re_path(
+        fr'^courses/{settings.COURSE_ID_PATTERN}/discussion-sidebar/enabled/$',
+        courseware_views.courseware_mfe_discussion_sidebar_open_is_enabled,
+        name='discussion_sidebar_enabled_view',
+    ),
 ]
 
 urlpatterns += [