iPad disconnects from wifi when closed

Under previous ios versions, when you opened your ipad case and/or pressed the home button if it was asleep the device would connect to the previous wifi ssid that was connected when the cover was closed.

Now under ios 12.1.1, the ipad does not automatically reconnect. Instead you must go into settings | wifi and choose a network again, each and every time you activate the device, even if the prior connection was only minutes ago. This is highly undesirable for what is supposed to be an instant on device.