diff --git a/src/pystatsv1/trackd/__init__.py b/src/pystatsv1/trackd/__init__.py
index b0fe20e..4bb3226 100644
--- a/src/pystatsv1/trackd/__init__.py
+++ b/src/pystatsv1/trackd/__init__.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 
 from ._errors import TrackDDataError, TrackDSchemaError  # noqa: F401
 from ._types import DataFrame, DataFrames, PathLike  # noqa: F401
+from .csvio import read_csv_required  # noqa: F401
 
 __all__ = [
     "DataFrame",
@@ -16,4 +17,5 @@
     "PathLike",
     "TrackDDataError",
     "TrackDSchemaError",
+    "read_csv_required",
 ]
diff --git a/src/pystatsv1/trackd/csvio.py b/src/pystatsv1/trackd/csvio.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97717ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/pystatsv1/trackd/csvio.py
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+"""Track D CSV I/O helpers.
+
+This module centralizes the most common, student-facing CSV loading patterns
+used across Track D.
+
+Goals
+- Friendly, consistent error messages.
+- Small surface area (easy to reuse in chapter runners and BYOD adapters).
+- Avoid leaking low-level pandas exceptions to beginners.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, Mapping, Sequence
+
+import pandas as pd
+
+from ._errors import TrackDDataError, TrackDSchemaError
+from ._types import DataFrame, PathLike
+
+
+def read_csv_required(
+    path: PathLike,
+    *,
+    required_cols: Sequence[str] | None = None,
+    parse_dates: Sequence[str] | None = None,
+    dtypes: Mapping[str, Any] | None = None,
+    **kwargs: Any,
+) -> DataFrame:
+    """Read a CSV file and enforce required columns.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    path:
+        Path to the CSV file.
+    required_cols:
+        Column names that must be present in the CSV header row.
+    parse_dates:
+        Column names to parse as dates (passed to pandas).
+    dtypes:
+        Optional dtype mapping (passed to pandas).
+
+    Raises
+    ------
+    TrackDDataError:
+        If the file is missing or can't be read.
+    TrackDSchemaError:
+        If required columns are missing.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    pandas.DataFrame
+    """
+    p = Path(path)
+    if not p.exists():
+        raise TrackDDataError(
+            f"Missing CSV file: {p}.\n"
+            "Hint: check your export location and filename, then try again."
+        )
+
+    read_kwargs: dict[str, Any] = dict(kwargs)
+    if parse_dates is not None:
+        read_kwargs["parse_dates"] = list(parse_dates)
+    if dtypes is not None:
+        read_kwargs["dtype"] = dtypes
+
+    try:
+        df = pd.read_csv(p, **read_kwargs)
+    except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover
+        raise TrackDDataError(
+            f"Could not read CSV: {p}.\n"
+            f"Reason: {type(e).__name__}: {e}"
+        ) from e
+
+    if required_cols:
+        missing = [c for c in required_cols if c not in df.columns]
+        if missing:
+            found = ", ".join(map(str, df.columns)) if len(df.columns) else "(no columns)"
+            req = ", ".join(missing)
+            raise TrackDSchemaError(
+                f"Missing required columns in {p.name}: {req}.\n"
+                f"Found columns: {found}.\n"
+                "Hint: ensure the first row is the header, and re-export as CSV if needed."
+            )
+
+    return df
diff --git a/tests/test_trackd_csvio_errors_are_friendly.py b/tests/test_trackd_csvio_errors_are_friendly.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b4e28b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_trackd_csvio_errors_are_friendly.py
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from pystatsv1.trackd import TrackDDataError, TrackDSchemaError
+from pystatsv1.trackd.csvio import read_csv_required
+
+
+def test_read_csv_required_missing_file_is_friendly(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    missing = tmp_path / "nope.csv"
+    with pytest.raises(TrackDDataError) as excinfo:
+        read_csv_required(missing, required_cols=["a"])
+
+    msg = str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "Missing CSV file" in msg
+    assert "nope.csv" in msg
+    assert "Hint:" in msg
+
+
+def test_read_csv_required_missing_columns_is_friendly(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    p = tmp_path / "data.csv"
+    p.write_text("a,b\n1,2\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    with pytest.raises(TrackDSchemaError) as excinfo:
+        read_csv_required(p, required_cols=["a", "c"])
+
+    msg = str(excinfo.value)
+    assert "Missing required columns" in msg
+    assert "c" in msg
+    assert "Found columns" in msg
+    assert "Hint:" in msg
+
+
+def test_read_csv_required_success(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    p = tmp_path / "ok.csv"
+    p.write_text("a,b\n1,2\n", encoding="utf-8")
+
+    df = read_csv_required(p, required_cols=["a", "b"])
+    assert list(df.columns) == ["a", "b"]
+    assert df.shape == (1, 2)