diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
index ebcb044783..15a101e876 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/combined_open_ended_module.py
@@ -210,20 +210,12 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
             'rubric': definition['rubric'],
             'display_name': self.display_name,
             'accept_file_upload': self.accept_file_upload,
+            'close_date': self.close_date
         }
 
         self.task_xml = definition['task_xml']
         self.setup_next_task()
 
-    def closed(self):
-        ''' Is the student still allowed to submit answers? '''
-        if self.attempts >= self.max_attempts:
-            return True
-        if self.close_date is not None and datetime.datetime.utcnow() > self.close_date:
-            return True
-        return False
-
-
 
     def get_tag_name(self, xml):
         """
@@ -306,7 +298,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
         self.current_task_parsed_xml = self.current_task_descriptor.definition_from_xml(etree_xml, self.system)
         if current_task_state is None and self.current_task_number == 0:
             self.current_task = child_task_module(self.system, self.location,
-                self.current_task_parsed_xml, self.current_task_descriptor, self.static_data, self)
+                self.current_task_parsed_xml, self.current_task_descriptor, self.static_data)
             self.task_states.append(self.current_task.get_instance_state())
             self.state = self.ASSESSING
         elif current_task_state is None and self.current_task_number > 0:
@@ -322,7 +314,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
             })
             self.current_task = child_task_module(self.system, self.location,
                 self.current_task_parsed_xml, self.current_task_descriptor, self.static_data,
-                self, instance_state=current_task_state)
+                instance_state=current_task_state)
             self.task_states.append(self.current_task.get_instance_state())
             self.state = self.ASSESSING
         else:
@@ -330,7 +322,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
                 current_task_state = self.overwrite_state(current_task_state)
             self.current_task = child_task_module(self.system, self.location,
                 self.current_task_parsed_xml, self.current_task_descriptor, self.static_data,
-                self, instance_state=current_task_state)
+                instance_state=current_task_state)
 
         return True
 
@@ -442,7 +434,7 @@ class CombinedOpenEndedModule(XModule):
 
         task_parsed_xml = task_descriptor.definition_from_xml(etree_xml, self.system)
         task = children['modules'][task_type](self.system, self.location, task_parsed_xml, task_descriptor,
-            self.static_data, self, instance_state=task_state)
+            self.static_data, instance_state=task_state)
         last_response = task.latest_answer()
         last_score = task.latest_score()
         last_post_assessment = task.latest_post_assessment(self.system)
diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/openendedchild.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/openendedchild.py
index 8c35fb0cae..9fa8959c95 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/openendedchild.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/openendedchild.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class OpenEndedChild(object):
         'done': 'Problem complete',
     }
 
-    def __init__(self, system, location, definition, descriptor, static_data, parent,
+    def __init__(self, system, location, definition, descriptor, static_data, 
                  instance_state=None, shared_state=None, **kwargs):
         # Load instance state
         if instance_state is not None:
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ class OpenEndedChild(object):
         # Scores are on scale from 0 to max_score
         self.history = instance_state.get('history', [])
 
-        self.parent = parent
-
         self.state = instance_state.get('state', self.INITIAL)
 
         self.created = instance_state.get('created', False)
@@ -100,6 +98,7 @@ class OpenEndedChild(object):
         self.rubric = static_data['rubric']
         self.display_name = static_data['display_name']
         self.accept_file_upload = static_data['accept_file_upload']
+        self.close_date = static_data['close_date']
 
         # Used for progress / grading.  Currently get credit just for
         # completion (doesn't matter if you self-assessed correct/incorrect).
@@ -119,7 +118,9 @@ class OpenEndedChild(object):
         pass
 
     def closed(self):
-        return self.parent.closed()
+        if self.close_date is not None and datetime.utcnow() > self.close_date:
+            return True
+        return False
 
     def latest_answer(self):
         """Empty string if not available"""