diff --git a/contributing/samples/skills_agent/agent.py b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/agent.py
index fbd4e5f4..5c2fb91c 100644
--- a/contributing/samples/skills_agent/agent.py
+++ b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/agent.py
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@
 
 """Example agent demonstrating the use of SkillToolset."""
 
-import inspect
+import pathlib
 
 from google.adk import Agent
+from google.adk.skills import load_skill_from_dir
 from google.adk.skills import models
 from google.adk.tools import skill_toolset
 
@@ -39,7 +40,13 @@ greeting_skill = models.Skill(
     ),
 )
 
-my_skill_toolset = skill_toolset.SkillToolset(skills=[greeting_skill])
+weather_skill = load_skill_from_dir(
+    pathlib.Path(__file__).parent / "skills" / "weather_skill"
+)
+
+my_skill_toolset = skill_toolset.SkillToolset(
+    skills=[greeting_skill, weather_skill]
+)
 
 root_agent = Agent(
     model="gemini-2.5-flash",
diff --git a/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/SKILL.md b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/SKILL.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..67d87105
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/SKILL.md
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+---
+name: weather-skill
+description: A skill that provides weather information based on reference data.
+---
+
+Step 1: Check 'references/weather_info.md' for the current weather.
+Step 2: Provide the weather update to the user.
diff --git a/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/references/weather_info.md b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/references/weather_info.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ebe6b633
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contributing/samples/skills_agent/skills/weather_skill/references/weather_info.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Weather Information
+
+- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
+- **Condition:** Sunny ☀️
+- **Temperature:** 72°F (22°C)
+- **Forecast:** Clear skies all day.
diff --git a/src/google/adk/skills/__init__.py b/src/google/adk/skills/__init__.py
index 3480bc7d..73184b2b 100644
--- a/src/google/adk/skills/__init__.py
+++ b/src/google/adk/skills/__init__.py
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ from .models import Frontmatter
 from .models import Resources
 from .models import Script
 from .models import Skill
-from .prompt import format_skills_as_xml
+from .utils import load_skill_from_dir
 
 __all__ = [
     "Frontmatter",
     "Resources",
     "Script",
     "Skill",
-    "format_skills_as_xml",
+    "load_skill_from_dir",
 ]
diff --git a/src/google/adk/skills/utils.py b/src/google/adk/skills/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3f357311
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/google/adk/skills/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+# Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Utility functions for Agent Skills."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pathlib
+from typing import Union
+
+import yaml
+
+from . import models
+
+
+def _load_dir(directory: pathlib.Path) -> dict[str, str]:
+  """Recursively load files from a directory into a dictionary.
+
+  Args:
+    directory: Path to the directory to load.
+
+  Returns:
+    Dictionary mapping relative file paths to their string content.
+  """
+  files = {}
+  if directory.exists() and directory.is_dir():
+    for file_path in directory.rglob("*"):
+      if file_path.is_file():
+        relative_path = file_path.relative_to(directory)
+        files[str(relative_path)] = file_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+  return files
+
+
+def load_skill_from_dir(skill_dir: Union[str, pathlib.Path]) -> models.Skill:
+  """Load a complete skill from a directory.
+
+  Args:
+    skill_dir: Path to the skill directory.
+
+  Returns:
+    Skill object with all components loaded.
+
+  Raises:
+    FileNotFoundError: If the skill directory or SKILL.md is not found.
+    ValueError: If SKILL.md is invalid.
+  """
+  skill_dir = pathlib.Path(skill_dir).resolve()
+
+  if not skill_dir.is_dir():
+    raise FileNotFoundError(f"Skill directory '{skill_dir}' not found.")
+
+  skill_md = None
+  for name in ("SKILL.md", "skill.md"):
+    path = skill_dir / name
+    if path.exists():
+      skill_md = path
+      break
+
+  if skill_md is None:
+    raise FileNotFoundError(f"SKILL.md not found in '{skill_dir}'.")
+
+  content = skill_md.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+  if not content.startswith("---"):
+    raise ValueError("SKILL.md must start with YAML frontmatter (---)")
+
+  parts = content.split("---", 2)
+  if len(parts) < 3:
+    raise ValueError("SKILL.md frontmatter not properly closed with ---")
+
+  frontmatter_str = parts[1]
+  body = parts[2].strip()
+
+  try:
+    parsed = yaml.safe_load(frontmatter_str)
+  except yaml.YAMLError as e:
+    raise ValueError(f"Invalid YAML in frontmatter: {e}") from e
+
+  if not isinstance(parsed, dict):
+    raise ValueError("SKILL.md frontmatter must be a YAML mapping")
+
+  # Frontmatter class handles required field validation
+  frontmatter = models.Frontmatter(**parsed)
+
+  references = _load_dir(skill_dir / "references")
+  assets = _load_dir(skill_dir / "assets")
+  raw_scripts = _load_dir(skill_dir / "scripts")
+  scripts = {
+      name: models.Script(src=content) for name, content in raw_scripts.items()
+  }
+
+  resources = models.Resources(
+      references=references,
+      assets=assets,
+      scripts=scripts,
+  )
+
+  return models.Skill(
+      frontmatter=frontmatter,
+      instructions=body,
+      resources=resources,
+  )
diff --git a/tests/unittests/skills/test_utils.py b/tests/unittests/skills/test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d922719d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unittests/skills/test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Copyright 2026 Google LLC
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+"""Unit tests for skill utilities."""
+
+from google.adk.skills import load_skill_from_dir
+import pytest
+
+
+def test_load_skill_from_dir(tmp_path):
+  """Tests loading a skill from a directory."""
+  skill_dir = tmp_path / "test-skill"
+  skill_dir.mkdir()
+
+  skill_md_content = """---
+name: test-skill
+description: Test description
+---
+Test instructions
+"""
+  (skill_dir / "SKILL.md").write_text(skill_md_content)
+
+  # Create references
+  ref_dir = skill_dir / "references"
+  ref_dir.mkdir()
+  (ref_dir / "ref1.md").write_text("ref1 content")
+
+  # Create assets
+  assets_dir = skill_dir / "assets"
+  assets_dir.mkdir()
+  (assets_dir / "asset1.txt").write_text("asset1 content")
+
+  # Create scripts
+  scripts_dir = skill_dir / "scripts"
+  scripts_dir.mkdir()
+  (scripts_dir / "script1.sh").write_text("echo hello")
+
+  skill = load_skill_from_dir(skill_dir)
+
+  assert skill.name == "test-skill"
+  assert skill.description == "Test description"
+  assert skill.instructions == "Test instructions"
+  assert skill.resources.get_reference("ref1.md") == "ref1 content"
+  assert skill.resources.get_asset("asset1.txt") == "asset1 content"
+  assert skill.resources.get_script("script1.sh").src == "echo hello"