diff --git a/.github/copilot-instructions.md b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
index 5cb5d96045cd..54b0cbfa788d 100644
--- a/.github/copilot-instructions.md
+++ b/.github/copilot-instructions.md
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ Testing:
   - Examples:
     - `dotnet test test/dotnet.Tests/dotnet.Tests.csproj --filter "Name~ItShowsTheAppropriateMessageToTheUser"`
     - `dotnet exec artifacts/bin/redist/Debug/dotnet.Tests.dll -method "*ItShowsTheAppropriateMessageToTheUser*"`
-- For incremental test runs of `dotnet.Tests` (avoids slow full `build.cmd`), see the skill at `.github/copilot/skills/incremental-test.md`. In short: build only the modified projects, copy their output DLLs into the redist SDK layout, then run the tests.
+- For incremental test runs of `dotnet.Tests` (avoids slow full `build.cmd`), use the `incremental-test` skill.
 - To test CLI command changes:
   - Build the redist SDK: `./build.sh` from repo root
-  - Create a dogfood environment: `source eng/dogfood.sh` 
+  - Create a dogfood environment: `source eng/dogfood.sh`
   - Test commands in the dogfood shell (e.g., `dnx --help`, `dotnet tool install --help`)
   - The dogfood script sets up PATH and environment to use the newly built SDK
 
diff --git a/.github/skills/AGENTS.md b/.github/skills/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..0b022c9eba26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/skills/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Agent Skills
+
+When creating skills, follow:
+- Agent skills specification: https://agentskills.io/specification.md
+- Best practices: https://agentskills.io/skill-creation/best-practices.md
+
+## Structure
+
+```
+.github/skills/skill-name/
+├── SKILL.md          # Required: metadata + instructions
+├── scripts/          # Optional: executable code
+├── references/       # Optional: documentation
+├── assets/           # Optional: templates, resources
+└── ...               # Any additional files or directories
+```
+
+## Quick Checklist
+
+- [ ] Run `dotnet .github/skills/ValidateSkill.cs <skill-dir>` to validate format.
+- [ ] `description` describes what the skill does and when to use it. Skill body does not include "When to use this skill".
+- [ ] Skill does not explain things the agent already knows. Focus on what's specific to the task at hand.
+- [ ] Deterministic processes use scripts (for example, to fetch and format data from an API).
+- [ ] Scripts use PowerShell or .NET file-based apps, not bash.
diff --git a/.github/skills/ValidateSkill.cs b/.github/skills/ValidateSkill.cs
new file mode 100755
index 000000000000..12d1e0b51342
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/skills/ValidateSkill.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,103 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env dotnet
+#:property ManagePackageVersionsCentrally=false
+#:property PublishAot=false
+#:package YamlDotNet@16.3.0
+
+using YamlDotNet.Serialization;
+using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
+
+if (args.Length == 0)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine("Usage: dotnet ValidateSkill.cs <path-to-skill-directory>");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+string skillDir = Path.GetFullPath(args[0]);
+string skillName = Path.GetFileName(Path.TrimEndingDirectorySeparator(skillDir));
+string skillFile = Path.Combine(skillDir, "SKILL.md");
+
+// SKILL.md must exist in the skill directory
+if (!File.Exists(skillFile))
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"SKILL.md not found in {skillDir}");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+string text = File.ReadAllText(skillFile);
+
+// SKILL.md must begin with YAML frontmatter delimited by ---
+if (!text.StartsWith("---"))
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine("No YAML frontmatter found.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+Match frontmatterMatch = Regex.Match(
+    text,
+    @"\A---\r?\n(?<yaml>.*?)(?:\r?\n)---(?:\r?\n|$)",
+    RegexOptions.Singleline);
+if (!frontmatterMatch.Success)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine("Unterminated YAML frontmatter.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+string yaml = frontmatterMatch.Groups["yaml"].Value.Trim();
+
+IDeserializer deserializer = new DeserializerBuilder().Build();
+Dictionary<string, object> frontmatter = deserializer.Deserialize<Dictionary<string, object>>(yaml);
+
+// name is required
+if (!frontmatter.TryGetValue("name", out object? nameValue) || nameValue is not string frontmatterName)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine("Frontmatter missing 'name' field.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// name must be 1-64 characters
+if (frontmatterName.Length == 0 || frontmatterName.Length > 64)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"Name is {frontmatterName.Length} chars (must be 1-64).");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// name: lowercase alphanumeric and hyphens only, no leading/trailing/consecutive hyphens
+if (!Regex.IsMatch(frontmatterName, @"^[a-z0-9]([a-z0-9-]*[a-z0-9])?$")
+    || frontmatterName.Contains("--"))
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"Invalid name '{frontmatterName}'. Must be lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only. Must not start/end with a hyphen or contain consecutive hyphens.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// name must match the parent directory name
+if (!string.Equals(skillName, frontmatterName, StringComparison.Ordinal))
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"Name mismatch: directory is '{skillName}' but SKILL.md name is '{frontmatterName}'.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// description is required
+if (!frontmatter.TryGetValue("description", out object? descValue) || descValue is not string description)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine("Frontmatter missing 'description' field.");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// description must be 1-1024 characters
+if (description.Length == 0 || description.Length > 1024)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"Description is {description.Length} chars (must be 1-1024).");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+// Keep SKILL.md under 500 lines; move detailed content to references/ or scripts/
+// See "Progressive Disclosure" at https://agentskills.io/specification.md
+int lineCount = text.Split('\n').Length;
+if (lineCount > 500)
+{
+    Console.Error.WriteLine($"SKILL.md is {lineCount} lines (max 500). See \"Progressive Disclosure\" at https://agentskills.io/specification.md");
+    return 1;
+}
+
+Console.WriteLine($"Skill '{frontmatterName}' is valid.");
+return 0;
diff --git a/.github/copilot/skills/incremental-test.md b/.github/skills/incremental-test/SKILL.md
similarity index 90%
rename from .github/copilot/skills/incremental-test.md
rename to .github/skills/incremental-test/SKILL.md
index 7422b8a28d79..f4d927873152 100644
--- a/.github/copilot/skills/incremental-test.md
+++ b/.github/skills/incremental-test/SKILL.md
@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
-# Incremental Test Runner for dotnet.Tests
+---
+name: incremental-test
+description: >-
+  Run dotnet.Tests incrementally without a full build.cmd rebuild. Use after
+  modifying source code in SDK projects to quickly build only changed projects,
+  deploy their outputs into the redist SDK layout, and run tests against them.
+---
 
-This skill enables fast incremental test runs of `dotnet.Tests` without a full `build.cmd` rebuild.
-Use it after making source code changes to quickly build only the modified projects and deploy their outputs into the redist SDK layout so tests can run against them.
+# Incremental Test Runner for dotnet.Tests
 
 ## Prerequisites
 
@@ -9,10 +14,6 @@ Use it after making source code changes to quickly build only the modified proje
 - The repo-local `.dotnet` SDK must match the version expected by the test projects. If the runtime or SDK version is out of date (e.g., test build fails with a missing framework error), run `.\restore.cmd` (or `./restore.sh` on macOS/Linux) to download the correct SDK into `.dotnet`.
 - This workflow uses Windows/PowerShell commands and paths. On macOS/Linux, substitute forward slashes and use `cp` instead of `Copy-Item`.
 
-## When to use
-
-Use this skill when you need to run `dotnet.Tests` after modifying source code in one or more SDK projects. It avoids the slow full `build.cmd` by only rebuilding the changed projects and copying their output DLLs into the redist layout.
-
 ## Workflow
 
 ### Step 1: Identify modified projects