diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 198509e..036948e 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@
     "seed:permissions": "node src/db/seed-permissions.js",
     "lint:routes": "node scripts/check-route-auth.js",
     "import:content": "node scripts/import-content.js",
-    "test": "node --test tests/*.test.js"
+    "test": "node --test tests/*.test.js",
+    "hooks:install": "sh ../scripts/install-hooks.sh"
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "bcryptjs": "^2.4.3",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7499b12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/package.json
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+  "name": "learnspace",
+  "version": "1.0.0",
+  "private": true,
+  "description": "LearnSpace monorepo root — convenience scripts only",
+  "scripts": {
+    "hooks:install": "sh scripts/install-hooks.sh"
+  }
+}
diff --git a/scripts/install-hooks.cmd b/scripts/install-hooks.cmd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c0f166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install-hooks.cmd
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+@echo off
+rem install-hooks.cmd -- installs the LearnSpace pre-commit hook on Windows
+rem Usage: scripts\install-hooks.cmd
+rem Or via npm: npm run hooks:install
+
+for /f "tokens=*" %%i in ('git rev-parse --show-toplevel') do set REPO=%%i
+set HOOK=%REPO%\.git\hooks\pre-commit
+
+(
+echo #!/bin/sh
+echo # LearnSpace pre-commit hook ^(auto-generated -- edit scripts/pre-commit.js^)
+echo REPO="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
+echo node "$REPO/scripts/pre-commit.js" ^|^| exit 1
+) > "%HOOK%"
+
+echo Pre-commit hook installed at: %HOOK%
+echo Bypass anytime with: git commit --no-verify
diff --git a/scripts/install-hooks.sh b/scripts/install-hooks.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ce907c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/install-hooks.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# install-hooks.sh — installs the LearnSpace pre-commit hook into .git/hooks/
+# Usage: sh scripts/install-hooks.sh
+# Or via npm: npm run hooks:install
+
+set -e
+
+REPO_ROOT="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
+HOOKS_DIR="$REPO_ROOT/.git/hooks"
+HOOK_FILE="$HOOKS_DIR/pre-commit"
+
+cat > "$HOOK_FILE" << 'HOOK'
+#!/bin/sh
+# LearnSpace pre-commit hook (auto-generated — edit scripts/pre-commit.js)
+REPO="$(git rev-parse --show-toplevel)"
+node "$REPO/scripts/pre-commit.js" || exit 1
+HOOK
+
+chmod +x "$HOOK_FILE"
+
+echo "Pre-commit hook installed at: $HOOK_FILE"
+echo "Bypass anytime with: git commit --no-verify"
diff --git a/scripts/pre-commit.js b/scripts/pre-commit.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d535edb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pre-commit.js
@@ -0,0 +1,321 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+'use strict';
+/**
+ * pre-commit.js -- local CI quality gate for LearnSpace.
+ *
+ * Checks (in order, fastest first):
+ *   1. Node --check syntax on staged .js files in backend/src/ and frontend/js/
+ *   2. No emoji in newly-added lines of staged source files (not .md, not scripts/)
+ *   3. No new console.log / console.debug / debugger in staged backend/frontend .js
+ *   4. Backend route auth lint (check-route-auth.js) -- only if backend touched
+ *   5. Backend tests (npm test) -- only if backend touched; baseline = 3 fails
+ *
+ * Bypass: git commit --no-verify
+ */
+
+const { execSync, spawnSync } = require('child_process');
+const path = require('path');
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Helpers
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const REPO = execSync('git rev-parse --show-toplevel').toString().trim();
+
+function git(args) {
+  return execSync('git ' + args, { cwd: REPO, encoding: 'utf8' });
+}
+
+let failed = false;
+const errors = [];
+
+function fail(msg) {
+  errors.push(msg);
+  failed = true;
+}
+
+function ok(msg) {
+  process.stdout.write('  [OK] ' + msg + '\n');
+}
+
+function warn(msg) {
+  process.stdout.write('  [WARN] ' + msg + '\n');
+}
+
+function section(title) {
+  process.stdout.write('\n' + title + '\n');
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Staged files
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+const stagedRaw = git('diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM').trim();
+const stagedFiles = stagedRaw ? stagedRaw.split('\n').filter(Boolean) : [];
+
+if (stagedFiles.length === 0) {
+  process.stdout.write('No staged files -- nothing to check.\n');
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+// Source JS files: production code paths (not scripts/, not backend/scripts/, not tests/)
+function isSourceJs(f) {
+  if (!f.endsWith('.js')) return false;
+  if (f.startsWith('backend/src/'))  return true;
+  if (f.startsWith('frontend/js/'))  return true;
+  if (f.startsWith('frontend/') && f.split('/').length === 2) return true; // whiteboard.js etc
+  if (f.startsWith('js/'))           return true; // shared api.js, mobile.js etc
+  return false;
+}
+
+const sourceJsFiles = stagedFiles.filter(isSourceJs);
+
+// Files to check for emoji / debug statements (same set: production source only)
+// Includes HTML and CSS for emoji check
+const sourceCodeFiles = stagedFiles.filter(f =>
+  (f.startsWith('backend/src/') || f.startsWith('frontend/') || f.startsWith('js/')) &&
+  (f.endsWith('.js') || f.endsWith('.html') || f.endsWith('.css'))
+);
+
+const backendTouched = stagedFiles.some(f => f.startsWith('backend/'));
+
+process.stdout.write(
+  '\nLearnSpace pre-commit checks (' + stagedFiles.length + ' staged file(s))\n'
+);
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check 1: Syntax
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+section('1. Syntax check (node --check)');
+
+if (sourceJsFiles.length === 0) {
+  warn('No backend/src or frontend/js files staged -- skipping syntax check');
+} else {
+  let syntaxOk = true;
+  for (const f of sourceJsFiles) {
+    const absPath = path.join(REPO, f);
+    const r = spawnSync(process.execPath, ['--check', absPath], { encoding: 'utf8' });
+    if (r.status !== 0) {
+      const msg = (r.stderr || r.stdout || '').trim().split('\n').join('\n    ');
+      fail('Syntax error in ' + f + ':\n    ' + msg);
+      syntaxOk = false;
+    }
+  }
+  if (syntaxOk) ok(sourceJsFiles.length + ' file(s) -- no syntax errors');
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check 2: No emoji in newly-added lines of source files
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+section('2. No emoji in staged changes');
+
+// Emoji codepoint ranges (excludes pure dingbats like check/cross marks)
+// U+1F300-1F9FF: Misc Symbols & Pictographs, Emoticons, Transport, etc.
+// U+1F000-1F2FF: Mahjong, Domino, Playing Cards
+// U+1F650-1F67F: Ornamental Dingbats
+// U+1F900-1F9FF: Supplemental Symbols
+// Excluded intentionally: U+2600-27BF (Misc Symbols -- includes arrows, dingbats used in terminal UI)
+// because those block tool output characters (check marks, crosses, stars)
+const EMOJI_RE = /[\u{1F300}-\u{1F9FF}\u{1F000}-\u{1F2FF}\u{1F650}-\u{1F67F}]/u;
+
+// Build a set of source code file paths for fast lookup
+const sourceCodeSet = new Set(sourceCodeFiles);
+
+const diff = git('diff --cached --unified=0');
+const diffLines = diff.split('\n');
+
+let currentFile = null;
+let lineNum = 0;
+let emojiOk = true;
+
+for (const line of diffLines) {
+  if (line.startsWith('+++ b/')) {
+    currentFile = line.slice(6);
+    lineNum = 0;
+  } else if (line.startsWith('@@')) {
+    const m = line.match(/\+(\d+)/);
+    if (m) lineNum = parseInt(m[1], 10) - 1;
+  } else if (line.startsWith('+') && !line.startsWith('+++')) {
+    lineNum++;
+    if (!currentFile) continue;
+    // Only check production source files (backend/src/, frontend/)
+    if (!sourceCodeSet.has(currentFile)) continue;
+    // Skip .md files (docs may have emoji)
+    if (currentFile.endsWith('.md')) continue;
+    if (EMOJI_RE.test(line)) {
+      const found = [...line.matchAll(/[\u{1F300}-\u{1F9FF}\u{1F000}-\u{1F2FF}\u{1F650}-\u{1F67F}]/gu)]
+        .map(m2 => m2[0]).join(' ');
+      fail('Emoji in ' + currentFile + ':' + lineNum + ' -- "' + found + '"\n    Use inline SVG with .ic class instead');
+      emojiOk = false;
+    }
+  } else if (!line.startsWith('-')) {
+    lineNum++;
+  }
+}
+
+if (emojiOk) ok('No emoji in staged source changes');
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check 3: No new console.log / console.debug / debugger
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+section('3. No new debug statements');
+
+// Pattern split across strings to avoid self-match when this file is staged
+const DEBUG_WORD_A = 'console';
+const DEBUG_WORD_B = '.log';
+const DEBUG_WORD_C = '.debug';
+const DEBUGGER_KW  = 'debugger';
+const DEBUG_RE = new RegExp(
+  '\\b(' + DEBUG_WORD_A + '\\' + DEBUG_WORD_B +
+  '|' + DEBUG_WORD_A + '\\' + DEBUG_WORD_C +
+  '|' + DEBUGGER_KW + ')\\b'
+);
+
+// Source JS files set for debug check
+const sourceJsSet = new Set(sourceJsFiles);
+
+let debugCurrentFile = null;
+let debugLineNum = 0;
+let debugOk = true;
+
+for (const line of diffLines) {
+  if (line.startsWith('+++ b/')) {
+    debugCurrentFile = line.slice(6);
+    debugLineNum = 0;
+  } else if (line.startsWith('@@')) {
+    const m = line.match(/\+(\d+)/);
+    if (m) debugLineNum = parseInt(m[1], 10) - 1;
+  } else if (line.startsWith('+') && !line.startsWith('+++')) {
+    debugLineNum++;
+    if (!debugCurrentFile) continue;
+    if (!sourceJsSet.has(debugCurrentFile)) continue;
+    const content = line.slice(1); // strip leading '+'
+    // Skip pure comment lines (// and * in jsdoc blocks)
+    if (/^\s*(\/\/|\*)/.test(content)) continue;
+    if (DEBUG_RE.test(content)) {
+      fail('Debug statement in ' + debugCurrentFile + ':' + debugLineNum + ':\n    ' + content.trim());
+      debugOk = false;
+    }
+  } else if (!line.startsWith('-')) {
+    debugLineNum++;
+  }
+}
+
+if (debugOk) ok('No debug statements in staged source JS');
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check 4: Backend route auth lint
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+section('4. Backend route auth lint');
+
+// ACTUAL_UNPROTECTED: current unprotected count as of 2026-05-22.
+// The check-route-auth.js BASELINE is 56 but 65 routes currently exceed it
+// (pre-existing technical debt). We block only if NEW routes are added beyond 65.
+const ROUTE_LINT_ACTUAL = 65;
+
+if (!backendTouched) {
+  warn('No backend files staged -- skipping route lint');
+} else {
+  const lintResult = spawnSync(
+    process.execPath,
+    [path.join(REPO, 'backend/scripts/check-route-auth.js')],
+    { cwd: path.join(REPO, 'backend'), encoding: 'utf8' }
+  );
+
+  const lintOut = (lintResult.stdout || '') + (lintResult.stderr || '');
+
+  // Parse the current unprotected count from output
+  const countMatch = lintOut.match(/(\d+) unprotected \(baseline:/);
+  const currentCount = countMatch ? parseInt(countMatch[1], 10) : null;
+
+  if (currentCount !== null && currentCount > ROUTE_LINT_ACTUAL) {
+    const newRoutes = currentCount - ROUTE_LINT_ACTUAL;
+    fail(
+      'Route auth lint: ' + newRoutes + ' new unprotected route(s) added (was ' +
+      ROUTE_LINT_ACTUAL + ', now ' + currentCount + ').\n' +
+      '    Add requireOwnership/requireRole/requirePermission, or mark intentional:\n' +
+      '    // @public-by-design: <reason>'
+    );
+  } else if (currentCount === null && lintResult.status !== 0) {
+    // Permission key failure -- always block
+    const msg = lintOut.trim().split('\n').slice(-4).join('\n    ');
+    fail('Route auth lint failed (permission key issue):\n    ' + msg);
+  } else {
+    const note = currentCount !== null
+      ? currentCount + ' unprotected routes (pre-existing debt, not blocking)'
+      : 'passed';
+    ok('Route auth lint -- ' + note);
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Check 5: Backend tests
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+section('5. Backend tests');
+
+const TEST_FAIL_BASELINE = 3;
+
+if (!backendTouched) {
+  warn('No backend files staged -- skipping tests');
+} else {
+  const testResult = spawnSync(
+    process.execPath,
+    ['--test', 'tests/*.test.js'],
+    {
+      cwd: path.join(REPO, 'backend'),
+      encoding: 'utf8',
+      shell: true,   // needed for glob expansion on Windows
+      timeout: 30000,
+    }
+  );
+
+  const output = (testResult.stdout || '') + (testResult.stderr || '');
+  const outputLines = output.split('\n');
+
+  // Count individual test failures: lines with the Unicode cross mark at line start
+  // Exclude the "failing tests:" header and suite roll-up lines
+  // Node test runner uses '✖' (heavy multiplication x) for failures
+  const CROSS = '✖';
+  const failLines = outputLines.filter(l => {
+    const t = l.trim();
+    return t.startsWith(CROSS) &&
+           !t.startsWith(CROSS + ' failing tests') &&
+           !t.startsWith(CROSS + ' Auth');
+  });
+  const failCount = failLines.length;
+
+  if (failCount > TEST_FAIL_BASELINE) {
+    const newFails = failLines
+      .slice(TEST_FAIL_BASELINE)
+      .map(l => '    ' + l.trim())
+      .join('\n');
+    fail(
+      'Backend tests: ' + failCount + ' failures (baseline = ' + TEST_FAIL_BASELINE + '). New:\n' + newFails
+    );
+  } else {
+    ok('Backend tests: ' + failCount + ' failure(s) -- within baseline of ' + TEST_FAIL_BASELINE);
+  }
+}
+
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Final result
+// ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+process.stdout.write('\n');
+
+if (failed) {
+  process.stderr.write('\x1b[31mPRE-COMMIT FAILED\x1b[0m -- commit aborted.\n\n');
+  for (const e of errors) {
+    process.stderr.write('\x1b[31m  [FAIL]\x1b[0m ' + e + '\n');
+  }
+  process.stderr.write('\nBypass with: git commit --no-verify\n\n');
+  process.exit(1);
+} else {
+  process.stdout.write('\x1b[32mAll checks passed.\x1b[0m\n\n');
+  process.exit(0);
+}