diff --git a/ChangeLog.md b/ChangeLog.md
index 05a84f2..3b7782f 100644
--- a/ChangeLog.md
+++ b/ChangeLog.md
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@ The format is based on [Keep a Changelog](http://keepachangelog.com/en/1.0.0/)
 and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html).
 
 ## [unreleased] - 2025-12-11
+### Changed
+- Reuse the same request session on the same Data API instance
+
 ### Added
 - Added Data API configuration to request signatures
 - Added Data API Demo to standalone demos
+- Added a close() public method to close the session
 
 ### Fixed
 - Fixed mypy errors failing lint check on ci build
diff --git a/learnosity_sdk/request/dataapi.py b/learnosity_sdk/request/dataapi.py
index e8cf645..64217dc 100644
--- a/learnosity_sdk/request/dataapi.py
+++ b/learnosity_sdk/request/dataapi.py
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
 
 class DataApi(object):
 
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self._http_session = requests.Session()
+
+    def __del__(self) -> None:
+        self.close()
+
     def _extract_consumer(self, security_packet: Dict[str, str]) -> str:
         """
         Extract the consumer key from the security packet.
@@ -55,6 +61,12 @@ def _derive_action(self, endpoint: str, action: str) -> str:
 
         return f"{action}_{path}"
 
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        """Close pooled connections; later requests on this client remain supported."""
+        session = getattr(self, '_http_session', None)
+        if session is not None:
+            session.close()
+
     def request(self, endpoint: str, security_packet: Dict[str, str],
                 secret: str, request_packet:Dict[str, Any] = {}, action: str = 'get') -> Response:
         """
@@ -91,8 +103,12 @@ def request(self, endpoint: str, security_packet: Dict[str, str],
             'X-Learnosity-Action': derived_action,
             'X-Learnosity-SDK': f'Python:{sdk_version}'
         }
+        # Lazily create the session so subclasses that override __init__
+        # without calling super().__init__() still benefit from connection reuse.
+        if getattr(self, '_http_session', None) is None:
+            self._http_session = requests.Session()
 
-        return requests.post(endpoint, data=init.generate(), headers=headers)
+        return self._http_session.post(endpoint, data=init.generate(), headers=headers)
 
     def results_iter(self, endpoint: str, security_packet: Dict[str, str],
                      secret: str, request_packet: Dict[str, Any] = {},
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_dataapi.py b/tests/integration/test_dataapi.py
index 7693ae3..8a89278 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_dataapi.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_dataapi.py
@@ -117,6 +117,29 @@ def test_real_question_request(self) -> None:
 
         assert keys == {'py-sdk-test-2019-1', 'py-sdk-test-2019-2'}
 
+    def test_request_after_close(self) -> None:
+        """Verify that a client can still make requests after close() is called
+
+        Two requests are made to warm the pooled session, close() releases it,
+        and a third request on the same client must still succeed because the
+        session lazily rebuilds its connection pool.
+        """
+        client = DataApi()
+        endpoint = self.__build_base_url() + items_endpoint
+
+        references: List[str] = cast(List[str], items_request['references'])
+
+        first = client.request(endpoint, security, consumer_secret, items_request, action)
+        assert first.json()['data'][0]['reference'] in references
+
+        second = client.request(endpoint, security, consumer_secret, items_request, action)
+        assert second.json()['data'][0]['reference'] in references
+
+        client.close()
+
+        third = client.request(endpoint, security, consumer_secret, items_request, action)
+        assert third.json()['data'][0]['reference'] in references
+
     def test_question_paging(self) -> None:
         """Verify that paging works"""
         client = DataApi()
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_dataapi.py b/tests/unit/test_dataapi.py
index fd8127d..4cfc009 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_dataapi.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_dataapi.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, cast
 import unittest
+from unittest import mock
+import requests
 import responses
 from learnosity_sdk.request import DataApi
 from learnosity_sdk.exceptions import DataApiException
@@ -221,6 +223,72 @@ def test_derive_action_with_preview_version_multi_digit(self) -> None:
         assert action == 'get_/itembank/questions'
 
 
+    @responses.activate
+    def test_session_reused_across_requests(self) -> None:
+        """Verify that the same requests.Session is reused across requests on one instance"""
+        for dummy in self.dummy_responses:
+            responses.add(responses.POST, self.endpoint, json=dummy)
+        client = DataApi()
+
+        # The instance holds a single Session...
+        assert isinstance(client._http_session, requests.Session)
+        session = client._http_session
+
+        # ...and spying on that session's post shows every paginated request
+        # goes through the same object rather than a fresh connection each time.
+        original_post = session.post
+        call_count = 0
+
+        def counting_post(*args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> Any:
+            nonlocal call_count
+            call_count += 1
+            return original_post(*args, **kwargs)
+
+        session.post = counting_post  # type: ignore[method-assign]
+
+        list(client.request_iter(self.endpoint, self.security, self.consumer_secret,
+                                 self.request, self.action))
+
+        assert call_count == 2
+        assert client._http_session is session
+
+    def test_close_closes_session(self) -> None:
+        """Verify that close() closes the underlying session"""
+        client = DataApi()
+        with mock.patch.object(client._http_session, 'close') as mock_close:
+            client.close()
+        mock_close.assert_called_once_with()
+
+    def test_close_without_session_is_safe(self) -> None:
+        """Verify that close() does not raise if the session was never created"""
+        client = DataApi.__new__(DataApi)
+        # No __init__ ran, so _http_session does not exist; close() must not raise.
+        client.close()
+
+    @responses.activate
+    def test_request_lazily_creates_session_for_subclass_skipping_super(self) -> None:
+        """Verify a subclass that overrides __init__ without super() still works
+
+        Before session reuse, DataApi had no __init__, so such a subclass was
+        valid. request() must lazily create the session so these subclasses keep
+        working and still benefit from connection reuse.
+        """
+        class LegacySubclass(DataApi):
+            def __init__(self) -> None:
+                # Intentionally does not call super().__init__()
+                pass
+
+        client = LegacySubclass()
+        assert getattr(client, '_http_session', None) is None
+
+        responses.add(responses.POST, self.endpoint, json=self.dummy_responses[0])
+        response = client.request(self.endpoint, self.security, self.consumer_secret, self.request, self.action)
+
+        assert response.json() == self.dummy_responses[0]
+        # The session was created on demand, so subsequent calls reuse it.
+        assert isinstance(client._http_session, requests.Session)
+
+
     @responses.activate
     def test_metadata_headers_in_paginated_requests(self) -> None:
         """Verify that metadata headers are sent in all paginated requests"""