diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
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--- /dev/null
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+# Steev Profile Agent Rules
+
+This workspace is a child-local profile-workspace under the Cortex OS umbrella.
+
+It is not Cortex OS Core authority. It is not a Cortex OS Instance. It is not a Runtime unless a governed Core route says so.
+
+## Authority Order
+
+1. `/home/svrnty/workspaces/cortex-os/core` active SOT.
+2. `/home/svrnty/workspaces/cortex-os/core/AGENTS.md`.
+3. This file.
+4. `README.md`, `WORKBOARD.yaml`, and local tools.
+5. Chat/session memory.
+
+## Editing Rule
+
+Keep work inside this workspace unless Core explicitly routes promotion.
+
+After editing, run:
+
+```bash
+python3 tools/validate_steev_child.py
+```
+
+For governance text, follow Core caveman prose discipline.
+
+## Protected Boundaries
+
+- Do not mutate `../core/` from this workspace.
+- Do not mutate sibling repositories.
+- Do not import this workspace into Core source.
+- Promotion into Core requires a governed Core route.
diff --git a/WORKBOARD.yaml b/WORKBOARD.yaml
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+++ b/WORKBOARD.yaml
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+items:
+  - id: STEEV-WORK-001
+    title: Centralized Legacy Workspace Review
+    status: candidate
+    source: README.md
+    owner: jp
diff --git a/tools/validate_steev_child.py b/tools/validate_steev_child.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5a45c79
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/validate_steev_child.py
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+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Validate Steev Profile child workspace shell."""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from pathlib import Path
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+REQUIRED = ["AGENTS.md", "README.md", "WORKBOARD.yaml"]
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    errors: list[str] = []
+    for rel in REQUIRED:
+        if not (ROOT / rel).exists():
+            errors.append(f"missing:{rel}")
+    board = ROOT / "WORKBOARD.yaml"
+    if board.exists():
+        text = board.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        for snippet in ["STEEV-WORK-001", "status: candidate", "owner: jp"]:
+            if snippet not in text:
+                errors.append(f"workboard_missing:{snippet}")
+    agents = ROOT / "AGENTS.md"
+    if agents.exists():
+        text = agents.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+        for snippet in ["child-local", "not Cortex OS Core authority", "python3 tools/validate_steev_child.py"]:
+            if snippet not in text:
+                errors.append(f"agents_missing:{snippet}")
+    result = {"ok": not errors, "validator": "steev-child-v1", "checked": REQUIRED, "errors": errors, "warnings": []}
+    print(json.dumps(result, indent=2, sort_keys=True))
+    return 0 if result["ok"] else 1
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())