diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5595870..0e1ceec 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -554,6 +554,34 @@ distillation regression cannot overwrite the 80.31% candidate. Teacher agreement
 reported for diagnosis but does not enter deep checkpoint selection; overall and hard
 primary label accuracy remain the only selection inputs.
 
+### Pause and resume purpose-deep training
+
+`train_deep_mlx.py` handles both `Ctrl-C` (`SIGINT`) and `SIGTERM` gracefully. Press
+`Ctrl-C` once: the current optimizer step finishes, then the trainer atomically saves the
+current model, AdamW state and learning-rate cursor, epoch and next batch, exact shuffle
+order, accumulated losses, RNG state, best-selection state, and history under
+`<output-dir>/resume/`. It exits with the conventional signal-derived status only after
+that checkpoint is durable. A second `Ctrl-C` forces an immediate interruption.
+
+The pause message prints the complete resume command. For the distilled run above it is:
+
+```bash
+ml/purpose-classifier/venv/bin/python -u \
+  ml/purpose-classifier/train_deep_mlx.py \
+  --resume-training \
+    ml/purpose-classifier/outputs/purpose-deep-v1-base-mlx-distilled/resume
+```
+
+`--resume-training` is sufficient by itself: it restores the original dataset,
+distillation, schedule, loss, and selection arguments from the checkpoint. It also verifies
+hashes of the training split, validation split, and teacher cache before loading. The
+checkpoint resumes at the next unprocessed batch—even if stopped after the last training
+batch but before epoch evaluation. Normal completion removes the large optimizer resume
+artifact while retaining the selected `model/` and reports.
+
+This applies to processes started with the updated script. A process already running older
+code cannot acquire signal handling retroactively.
+
 The historical large-rung rule required base to qualify first, large to beat base by at
 least two hard-slice points, and deep to reach 97% scored overall while beating lite by
 five hard-slice points. Neither the v1 nor Sol-high v2 base result unlocked that rung.
diff --git a/tests/test_deep_model_mlx.py b/tests/test_deep_model_mlx.py
index 7fbc059..4540d90 100644
--- a/tests/test_deep_model_mlx.py
+++ b/tests/test_deep_model_mlx.py
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 import mlx.core as mx
 import mlx.nn as nn
+import mlx.optimizers as optim
+from mlx.utils import tree_flatten
 
 
 MODULE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
@@ -18,7 +20,11 @@ from deep_model_mlx import (
     save_weights,
 )
 from purpose_data import DataError, LABELS
-from train_deep_mlx import _distillation_loss
+from train_deep_mlx import (
+    _distillation_loss,
+    _load_optimizer_state,
+    _save_training_resume,
+)
 
 
 def tiny_config(*, checkpointing=False):
@@ -115,6 +121,54 @@ class DeepModelTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertAlmostEqual(0.0, float(value.item()), places=6)
         self.assertEqual(teacher.shape, gradient.shape)
 
+    def test_training_resume_round_trips_model_and_optimizer(self):
+        class Tokenizer:
+            @staticmethod
+            def save_pretrained(destination):
+                (destination / "tokenizer_config.json").write_text("{}\n")
+
+        model = ModernBertForPurposeClassification(tiny_config())
+        optimizer = optim.AdamW(learning_rate=1e-3)
+        optimizer.init(model.trainable_parameters())
+
+        def loss(ids, mask):
+            return mx.mean(model(ids, mask)["purpose_logits"] ** 2)
+
+        value_and_grad = nn.value_and_grad(model, loss)
+        value, gradients = value_and_grad(
+            mx.array([[1, 3, 4, 2]]), mx.ones((1, 4), dtype=mx.int32)
+        )
+        optimizer.update(model, gradients)
+        mx.eval(value, model.parameters(), optimizer.state)
+
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp:
+            checkpoint = _save_training_resume(
+                mx,
+                model,
+                optimizer,
+                Tokenizer(),
+                Path(temp),
+                {},
+                {"schemaVersion": 1, "status": "paused"},
+            )
+            restored_model = ModernBertForPurposeClassification(tiny_config())
+            restored_model.load_weights(
+                str(checkpoint / "model.safetensors"), strict=True
+            )
+            restored_optimizer = optim.AdamW(learning_rate=1e-3)
+            restored_optimizer.init(restored_model.trainable_parameters())
+            _load_optimizer_state(mx, restored_optimizer, checkpoint)
+
+            original = tree_flatten(optimizer.state, destination={})
+            restored = tree_flatten(restored_optimizer.state, destination={})
+            self.assertEqual(set(original), set(restored))
+            for key in original:
+                with self.subTest(optimizer_tensor=key):
+                    self.assertEqual(
+                        0,
+                        float(mx.max(mx.abs(original[key] - restored[key])).item()),
+                    )
+
     def test_checkpoint_round_trip(self):
         model = ModernBertForPurposeClassification(tiny_config())
         with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp:
diff --git a/tests/test_train_deep_resume.py b/tests/test_train_deep_resume.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f6120c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_train_deep_resume.py
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import json
+import signal
+import sys
+import tempfile
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+MODULE_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+sys.path.insert(0, str(MODULE_DIR))
+
+from train_deep_mlx import (
+    RESUME_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+    _ShutdownController,
+    _read_resume_state,
+    _restore_resume_arguments,
+    build_parser,
+)
+from purpose_data import DataError
+
+
+class DeepTrainingResumeTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_saved_arguments_make_resume_command_self_contained(self):
+        parser = build_parser()
+        args = parser.parse_args(
+            [
+                "--resume-training",
+                "/tmp/purpose-deep/resume",
+            ]
+        )
+        saved = {
+            "variant": "base",
+            "dataset_dir": "/datasets/v2",
+            "epochs": 7,
+            "distillation_cache": "/datasets/teacher.pt",
+            "distillation_weight": 0.5,
+            "progress_steps": 19,
+        }
+        checkpoint = Path("/tmp/purpose-deep/resume")
+        _restore_resume_arguments(
+            args,
+            checkpoint,
+            {"arguments": saved},
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(Path("/datasets/v2"), args.dataset_dir)
+        self.assertEqual(Path("/datasets/teacher.pt"), args.distillation_cache)
+        self.assertEqual(7, args.epochs)
+        self.assertEqual(0.5, args.distillation_weight)
+        self.assertEqual(checkpoint.parent, args.output_dir)
+        self.assertEqual(checkpoint, args.resume_training)
+        self.assertIsNone(args.resume_from)
+        self.assertFalse(args.overwrite_output)
+
+    def test_resume_state_fails_closed_on_wrong_schema(self):
+        with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as temp:
+            checkpoint = Path(temp)
+            (checkpoint / "resume-state.json").write_text(
+                json.dumps(
+                    {
+                        "schemaVersion": RESUME_SCHEMA_VERSION + 1,
+                        "status": "paused",
+                    }
+                )
+            )
+            with self.assertRaisesRegex(DataError, "unsupported"):
+                _read_resume_state(checkpoint)
+
+    def test_second_shutdown_request_is_forceful(self):
+        controller = _ShutdownController()
+        controller._handle(signal.SIGINT, None)
+        self.assertEqual(signal.SIGINT, controller.signum)
+        with self.assertRaises(KeyboardInterrupt):
+            controller._handle(signal.SIGINT, None)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/train_deep_mlx.py b/train_deep_mlx.py
index d52b9b2..7b9f8c3 100644
--- a/train_deep_mlx.py
+++ b/train_deep_mlx.py
@@ -4,11 +4,16 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import argparse
+import hashlib
 import json
 import math
+import os
 import random
 import shutil
+import shlex
+import signal
 import sys
+import tempfile
 import time
 from collections import Counter
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -43,6 +48,95 @@ from train_mlx import _configure_mlx_device, _linear_schedule, _teacher_cache
 SCRIPT_DIR = Path(__file__).resolve().parent
 DEFAULT_DATASET_DIR = SCRIPT_DIR / ".artifacts" / "dataset-v1"
 DEFAULT_OUTPUT_ROOT = SCRIPT_DIR / "outputs"
+RESUME_SCHEMA_VERSION = 1
+PATH_ARGUMENTS = {"dataset_dir", "distillation_cache"}
+
+
+class TrainingPaused(Exception):
+    """Raised after a signal-requested training checkpoint is durable."""
+
+    def __init__(self, checkpoint: Path, signum: int) -> None:
+        super().__init__(str(checkpoint))
+        self.checkpoint = checkpoint
+        self.signum = signum
+
+
+class _ShutdownController:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.signum: int | None = None
+        self._previous: dict[int, Any] = {}
+
+    def _handle(self, signum: int, _frame: Any) -> None:
+        if self.signum is not None:
+            raise KeyboardInterrupt
+        self.signum = signum
+
+    def install(self) -> None:
+        for signum in (signal.SIGINT, signal.SIGTERM):
+            self._previous[signum] = signal.getsignal(signum)
+            signal.signal(signum, self._handle)
+
+    def restore(self) -> None:
+        for signum, handler in self._previous.items():
+            signal.signal(signum, handler)
+        self._previous.clear()
+
+
+def _sha256(path: Path) -> str:
+    digest = hashlib.sha256()
+    with path.open("rb") as source:
+        for chunk in iter(lambda: source.read(1024 * 1024), b""):
+            digest.update(chunk)
+    return digest.hexdigest()
+
+
+def _read_resume_state(checkpoint: Path) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    state_path = checkpoint / "resume-state.json"
+    try:
+        state = json.loads(state_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+    except (OSError, json.JSONDecodeError) as exc:
+        raise DataError(f"{state_path}: cannot load training resume state: {exc}") from exc
+    if state.get("schemaVersion") != RESUME_SCHEMA_VERSION:
+        raise DataError(f"{state_path}: unsupported training resume schema")
+    if state.get("status") != "paused":
+        raise DataError(f"{state_path}: checkpoint is not paused training state")
+    return state
+
+
+def _serialized_resume_arguments(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
+    excluded = {
+        "model",
+        "resume_from",
+        "resume_training",
+        "output_dir",
+        "overwrite_output",
+    }
+    return {
+        key: (
+            str(value.expanduser().resolve())
+            if isinstance(value, Path)
+            else value
+        )
+        for key, value in vars(args).items()
+        if key not in excluded
+    }
+
+
+def _restore_resume_arguments(
+    args: argparse.Namespace, checkpoint: Path, state: dict[str, Any]
+) -> None:
+    saved = state.get("arguments")
+    if not isinstance(saved, dict):
+        raise DataError("training resume state has no saved arguments")
+    for key, value in saved.items():
+        if not hasattr(args, key):
+            raise DataError(f"training resume state has unknown argument {key!r}")
+        setattr(args, key, Path(value) if key in PATH_ARGUMENTS and value else value)
+    args.model = None
+    args.resume_from = None
+    args.resume_training = checkpoint
+    args.output_dir = checkpoint.parent
+    args.overwrite_output = False
 
 
 def _load_mlx(device: str) -> tuple[Any, Any, Any]:
@@ -248,6 +342,61 @@ def _save_checkpoint(
     mx.eval(model.parameters())
 
 
+def _save_training_resume(
+    mx: Any,
+    model: Any,
+    optimizer: Any,
+    tokenizer: Any,
+    output_dir: Path,
+    checkpoint_config: dict[str, Any],
+    state: dict[str, Any],
+) -> Path:
+    """Atomically save the current model, optimizer, and loop cursor."""
+
+    from mlx.utils import tree_flatten
+
+    output_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    temporary = Path(
+        tempfile.mkdtemp(prefix=".training-resume-", dir=output_dir)
+    )
+    destination = output_dir / "resume"
+    backup = output_dir / ".training-resume-backup"
+    try:
+        _save_checkpoint(mx, model, tokenizer, temporary, checkpoint_config)
+        mx.eval(optimizer.state)
+        optimizer_state = tree_flatten(optimizer.state, destination={})
+        if not optimizer_state:
+            raise DataError("optimizer state is empty; refusing an incomplete resume")
+        mx.save_safetensors(
+            str(temporary / "optimizer.safetensors"), optimizer_state
+        )
+        write_json(temporary / "resume-state.json", state)
+        if backup.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(backup)
+        if destination.exists():
+            os.replace(destination, backup)
+        os.replace(temporary, destination)
+        if backup.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(backup)
+    except BaseException:
+        if temporary.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(temporary)
+        if not destination.exists() and backup.exists():
+            os.replace(backup, destination)
+        raise
+    return destination
+
+
+def _load_optimizer_state(mx: Any, optimizer: Any, checkpoint: Path) -> None:
+    from mlx.utils import tree_unflatten
+
+    path = checkpoint / "optimizer.safetensors"
+    if not path.is_file():
+        raise DataError(f"{path}: optimizer resume state is missing")
+    optimizer.state = tree_unflatten(mx.load(str(path)))
+    mx.eval(optimizer.state)
+
+
 def _softmax(values: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
     shifted = values - values.max(axis=-1, keepdims=True)
     exponentials = np.exp(shifted)
@@ -388,12 +537,26 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
         ) from exc
 
     variant = DEEP_VARIANTS[args.variant]
-    source = _resolve_source(variant, args.resume_from or args.model)
-    source_config = _load_config(source, variant)
-    output_dir = args.output_dir or (
-        DEFAULT_OUTPUT_ROOT / f"purpose-deep-v1-{variant.name}-mlx"
+    resume_state = (
+        _read_resume_state(args.resume_training)
+        if args.resume_training is not None
+        else None
     )
-    _prepare_output(output_dir, source, args.overwrite_output)
+    source = _resolve_source(
+        variant, args.resume_training or args.resume_from or args.model
+    )
+    source_config = _load_config(source, variant)
+    if args.resume_training is not None:
+        output_dir = args.resume_training.parent
+        if args.output_dir is not None and args.output_dir.resolve() != output_dir:
+            raise DataError("--resume-training must use its original output directory")
+        if not (output_dir / "model" / "model.safetensors").is_file():
+            raise DataError(f"{output_dir}: selected model checkpoint is missing")
+    else:
+        output_dir = args.output_dir or (
+            DEFAULT_OUTPUT_ROOT / f"purpose-deep-v1-{variant.name}-mlx"
+        )
+        _prepare_output(output_dir, source, args.overwrite_output)
 
     train_path = args.dataset_dir / "train.jsonl"
     validation_path = args.dataset_dir / "validation.jsonl"
@@ -406,6 +569,20 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
     if args.max_validation_records:
         validation_records = validation_records[: args.max_validation_records]
 
+    input_hashes = {
+        "train": _sha256(train_path),
+        "validation": _sha256(validation_path),
+        "distillationCache": (
+            _sha256(args.distillation_cache.expanduser())
+            if args.distillation_cache is not None
+            else None
+        ),
+    }
+    if resume_state is not None and resume_state.get("inputHashes") != input_hashes:
+        raise DataError(
+            "training inputs changed after the pause; refusing a non-deterministic resume"
+        )
+
     tokenizer = AutoTokenizer.from_pretrained(source, local_files_only=True)
     print("tokenizing fixed 1x512 train and validation splits", flush=True)
     encoded_train = _encode_records(tokenizer, train_records)
@@ -438,13 +615,18 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
         source_config, gradient_checkpointing=not args.no_gradient_checkpointing
     )
     model = ModernBertForPurposeClassification(model_config)
-    if args.resume_from is not None:
+    if args.resume_training is not None or args.resume_from is not None:
         load_report = load_checkpoint_weights(
             model, source / "model.safetensors"
         )
         print(
             f"resumed purpose-deep tensors={load_report['loaded']} "
-            "including all task heads; optimizer state starts fresh",
+            "including all task heads"
+            + (
+                " and exact optimizer/loop state"
+                if args.resume_training is not None
+                else "; optimizer state starts fresh"
+            ),
             flush=True,
         )
     else:
@@ -473,6 +655,10 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
         weight_decay=args.weight_decay,
         bias_correction=True,
     )
+    optimizer.init(model.trainable_parameters())
+    mx.eval(optimizer.state)
+    if args.resume_training is not None:
+        _load_optimizer_state(mx, optimizer, source)
     class_weights_mx = mx.array(secondary_class_weights)
 
     def loss_function(
@@ -554,166 +740,320 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
     rng = np.random.default_rng(args.seed)
     checkpoint_config = _checkpoint_config(source_config, variant)
     best_dir = output_dir / "model"
-    epochs_without_improvement = 0
     stopped_early = False
-    history: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
-    started = time.perf_counter()
-
-    initial_outputs = _evaluate(
-        mx, model, encoded_validation, eval_batch_size
-    )
-    initial_metrics = multitask_metrics(initial_outputs, validation_records)
-    if teacher_validation_logits is not None:
-        initial_metrics["teacherAgreement"] = float(
-            np.mean(
-                initial_outputs["purpose_logits"][validation_scorable].argmax(
-                    axis=-1
-                )
-                == teacher_validation_logits[validation_scorable].argmax(axis=-1)
-            )
-        )
-    initial_metrics["epoch"] = 0
-    best_score = float(initial_metrics["selectionScore"])
-    best_metrics: dict[str, Any] = initial_metrics
-    _save_checkpoint(mx, model, tokenizer, best_dir, checkpoint_config)
     write_json(
-        output_dir / "training-state.json",
+        output_dir / "training-config.json",
         {
-            "bestEpoch": 0,
-            "bestSelectionScore": best_score,
-            "elapsedSeconds": time.perf_counter() - started,
-            "complete": False,
+            key: str(value) if isinstance(value, Path) else value
+            for key, value in vars(args).items()
         },
     )
-    print(
-        f"epoch 0: primary_accuracy={initial_metrics['primary']['accuracy']:.4%} "
-        f"hard_accuracy={initial_metrics['primaryHardSlice']['accuracy']:.4%} "
-        f"mixed_f1={initial_metrics['mixed']['f1']:.4%} "
-        f"selection_score={best_score:.4%}"
-        + (
-            f" teacher_agreement={initial_metrics['teacherAgreement']:.4%}"
-            if "teacherAgreement" in initial_metrics
-            else ""
-        ),
-        flush=True,
-    )
 
-    for epoch in range(1, args.epochs + 1):
-        epoch_started = time.perf_counter()
-        model.train()
-        running = np.zeros(6, dtype=np.float64)
-        permutation = rng.permutation(len(train_records))
-        for step, indexes in enumerate(
-            _batch_indexes(
-                len(train_records), batch_size, permutation=permutation
-            ),
-            1,
-        ):
-            batch = _mlx_batch(
-                mx, encoded_train, train_targets, sample_weights, indexes
+    if resume_state is not None:
+        try:
+            initial_metrics = resume_state["initialMetrics"]
+            best_score = float(resume_state["bestScore"])
+            best_metrics = resume_state["bestMetrics"]
+            epochs_without_improvement = int(
+                resume_state["epochsWithoutImprovement"]
             )
-            teacher_logits = (
-                mx.array(teacher_train_logits[indexes])
-                if teacher_train_logits is not None
-                else None
+            history = list(resume_state["history"])
+            start_epoch = int(resume_state["epoch"])
+            resume_next_step = int(resume_state["nextStep"])
+            resume_permutation = resume_state.get("permutation")
+            resume_running = np.asarray(
+                resume_state["runningLosses"], dtype=np.float64
             )
-            losses, gradients = loss_and_grad(
-                batch["input_ids"],
-                batch["attention_mask"],
-                batch["primary"],
-                batch["secondary"],
-                batch["secondary_mask"],
-                batch["mixed"],
-                batch["difficulty"],
-                batch["sample_weights"],
-                teacher_logits,
-            )
-            gradients, _ = optim.clip_grad_norm(gradients, args.max_grad_norm)
-            optimizer.update(model, gradients)
-            mx.eval(model.parameters(), optimizer.state, *losses)
-            running += np.asarray([float(value.item()) for value in losses])
-            if args.progress_steps and (
-                step % args.progress_steps == 0 or step == steps_per_epoch
-            ):
-                mean = running / step
-                print(
-                    f"epoch {epoch} step {step}/{steps_per_epoch} "
-                    f"loss={mean[0]:.4f} primary={mean[1]:.4f} "
-                    f"secondary={mean[2]:.4f} mixed={mean[3]:.4f} "
-                    f"difficulty={mean[4]:.4f}"
-                    + (
-                        f" distillation={mean[5]:.4f}"
-                        if teacher_train_logits is not None
-                        else ""
-                    )
-                    + " "
-                    f"elapsed={time.perf_counter() - epoch_started:.1f}s",
-                    flush=True,
-                )
-
-        outputs = _evaluate(
+            resume_epoch_elapsed = float(resume_state["epochElapsedSeconds"])
+            rng.bit_generator.state = resume_state["numpyRngState"]
+            started = time.perf_counter() - float(resume_state["elapsedSeconds"])
+        except (KeyError, TypeError, ValueError) as exc:
+            raise DataError(f"invalid training loop resume state: {exc}") from exc
+        if not 1 <= resume_next_step <= steps_per_epoch + 1:
+            raise DataError("training resume step is outside the epoch")
+        if resume_running.shape != (6,):
+            raise DataError("training resume loss accumulator has the wrong shape")
+        print(
+            f"continuing epoch {start_epoch} at step "
+            f"{resume_next_step}/{steps_per_epoch} after "
+            f"{resume_state['elapsedSeconds']:.1f}s of saved training",
+            flush=True,
+        )
+    else:
+        epochs_without_improvement = 0
+        history: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
+        started = time.perf_counter()
+        initial_outputs = _evaluate(
             mx, model, encoded_validation, eval_batch_size
         )
-        metrics = multitask_metrics(outputs, validation_records)
+        initial_metrics = multitask_metrics(initial_outputs, validation_records)
         if teacher_validation_logits is not None:
-            metrics["teacherAgreement"] = float(
+            initial_metrics["teacherAgreement"] = float(
                 np.mean(
-                    outputs["purpose_logits"][validation_scorable].argmax(axis=-1)
+                    initial_outputs["purpose_logits"][validation_scorable].argmax(
+                        axis=-1
+                    )
                     == teacher_validation_logits[validation_scorable].argmax(axis=-1)
                 )
             )
-        metrics["epoch"] = epoch
-        metrics["meanTrainingLoss"] = (running / steps_per_epoch).tolist()
-        history.append(metrics)
-        score = float(metrics["selectionScore"])
-        secondary_macro = (
-            metrics["secondary"]["supportedMacroRecall"]
-            if metrics["secondary"] is not None
-            else 0.0
+        initial_metrics["epoch"] = 0
+        best_score = float(initial_metrics["selectionScore"])
+        best_metrics: dict[str, Any] = initial_metrics
+        _save_checkpoint(mx, model, tokenizer, best_dir, checkpoint_config)
+        write_json(
+            output_dir / "training-state.json",
+            {
+                "bestEpoch": 0,
+                "bestSelectionScore": best_score,
+                "elapsedSeconds": time.perf_counter() - started,
+                "complete": False,
+            },
         )
         print(
-            f"epoch {epoch}: primary_accuracy={metrics['primary']['accuracy']:.4%} "
-            f"hard_accuracy={metrics['primaryHardSlice']['accuracy']:.4%} "
-            f"secondary_supported_macro_recall={secondary_macro:.4%} "
-            f"mixed_f1={metrics['mixed']['f1']:.4%} "
-            f"difficulty_mae={metrics['difficulty']['mae']:.4f} "
-            f"selection_score={score:.4%}"
+            f"epoch 0: primary_accuracy={initial_metrics['primary']['accuracy']:.4%} "
+            f"hard_accuracy={initial_metrics['primaryHardSlice']['accuracy']:.4%} "
+            f"mixed_f1={initial_metrics['mixed']['f1']:.4%} "
+            f"selection_score={best_score:.4%}"
             + (
-                f" teacher_agreement={metrics['teacherAgreement']:.4%}"
-                if "teacherAgreement" in metrics
+                f" teacher_agreement={initial_metrics['teacherAgreement']:.4%}"
+                if "teacherAgreement" in initial_metrics
                 else ""
             ),
             flush=True,
         )
-        improvement = score - best_score
-        if improvement > args.minimum_improvement:
-            best_score = score
-            best_metrics = metrics
-            epochs_without_improvement = 0
-            _save_checkpoint(
-                mx, model, tokenizer, best_dir, checkpoint_config
-            )
-            write_json(
-                output_dir / "training-state.json",
-                {
-                    "bestEpoch": epoch,
-                    "bestSelectionScore": best_score,
-                    "elapsedSeconds": time.perf_counter() - started,
-                    "complete": False,
-                },
-            )
-        else:
-            epochs_without_improvement += 1
-            if epochs_without_improvement >= args.early_stopping_patience:
-                stopped_early = True
-                print(
-                    f"early stopping after epoch {epoch}: no hard-aware "
-                    f"selection improvement greater than "
-                    f"{args.minimum_improvement:.4%} for "
-                    f"{args.early_stopping_patience} epoch(s)",
-                    flush=True,
+        start_epoch = 1
+        resume_next_step = 1
+        resume_permutation = None
+        resume_running = np.zeros(6, dtype=np.float64)
+        resume_epoch_elapsed = 0.0
+
+    shutdown = _ShutdownController()
+
+    def pause_training(
+        epoch: int,
+        next_step: int,
+        permutation: np.ndarray | None,
+        running: np.ndarray,
+        epoch_elapsed: float,
+    ) -> None:
+        signum = shutdown.signum or signal.SIGINT
+        print(
+            f"shutdown requested; saving exact training state after epoch {epoch} "
+            f"step {max(next_step - 1, 0)}",
+            flush=True,
+        )
+        state = {
+            "schemaVersion": RESUME_SCHEMA_VERSION,
+            "status": "paused",
+            "signal": signal.Signals(signum).name,
+            "arguments": _serialized_resume_arguments(args),
+            "inputHashes": input_hashes,
+            "epoch": epoch,
+            "nextStep": next_step,
+            "permutation": permutation.tolist() if permutation is not None else None,
+            "runningLosses": running.tolist(),
+            "epochElapsedSeconds": epoch_elapsed,
+            "elapsedSeconds": time.perf_counter() - started,
+            "numpyRngState": rng.bit_generator.state,
+            "initialMetrics": initial_metrics,
+            "bestScore": best_score,
+            "bestMetrics": best_metrics,
+            "epochsWithoutImprovement": epochs_without_improvement,
+            "history": history,
+        }
+        checkpoint = _save_training_resume(
+            mx,
+            model,
+            optimizer,
+            tokenizer,
+            output_dir,
+            checkpoint_config,
+            state,
+        )
+        write_json(
+            output_dir / "training-state.json",
+            {
+                "bestEpoch": int(best_metrics["epoch"]),
+                "bestSelectionScore": best_score,
+                "elapsedSeconds": state["elapsedSeconds"],
+                "complete": False,
+                "paused": True,
+                "resumeCheckpoint": str(checkpoint),
+            },
+        )
+        print(
+            "training paused safely; resume with:\n"
+            f"  {shlex.quote(sys.executable)} -u "
+            f"{shlex.quote(str(Path(__file__).resolve()))} "
+            f"--resume-training {shlex.quote(str(checkpoint))}",
+            flush=True,
+        )
+        raise TrainingPaused(checkpoint, signum)
+
+    shutdown.install()
+    try:
+        for epoch in range(start_epoch, args.epochs + 1):
+            if resume_state is not None and epoch == start_epoch:
+                permutation = (
+                    np.asarray(resume_permutation, dtype=np.int64)
+                    if resume_permutation is not None
+                    else rng.permutation(len(train_records))
                 )
-                break
+                running = resume_running.copy()
+                first_step = resume_next_step
+                epoch_started = time.perf_counter() - resume_epoch_elapsed
+            else:
+                permutation = rng.permutation(len(train_records))
+                running = np.zeros(6, dtype=np.float64)
+                first_step = 1
+                epoch_started = time.perf_counter()
+            if permutation.shape != (len(train_records),):
+                raise DataError("training resume permutation has the wrong shape")
+            if shutdown.signum is not None:
+                pause_training(
+                    epoch,
+                    first_step,
+                    permutation,
+                    running,
+                    time.perf_counter() - epoch_started,
+                )
+            model.train()
+            for step, indexes in enumerate(
+                _batch_indexes(
+                    len(train_records), batch_size, permutation=permutation
+                ),
+                1,
+            ):
+                if step < first_step:
+                    continue
+                batch = _mlx_batch(
+                    mx, encoded_train, train_targets, sample_weights, indexes
+                )
+                teacher_logits = (
+                    mx.array(teacher_train_logits[indexes])
+                    if teacher_train_logits is not None
+                    else None
+                )
+                losses, gradients = loss_and_grad(
+                    batch["input_ids"],
+                    batch["attention_mask"],
+                    batch["primary"],
+                    batch["secondary"],
+                    batch["secondary_mask"],
+                    batch["mixed"],
+                    batch["difficulty"],
+                    batch["sample_weights"],
+                    teacher_logits,
+                )
+                gradients, _ = optim.clip_grad_norm(gradients, args.max_grad_norm)
+                optimizer.update(model, gradients)
+                mx.eval(model.parameters(), optimizer.state, *losses)
+                running += np.asarray([float(value.item()) for value in losses])
+                if args.progress_steps and (
+                    step % args.progress_steps == 0 or step == steps_per_epoch
+                ):
+                    mean = running / step
+                    print(
+                        f"epoch {epoch} step {step}/{steps_per_epoch} "
+                        f"loss={mean[0]:.4f} primary={mean[1]:.4f} "
+                        f"secondary={mean[2]:.4f} mixed={mean[3]:.4f} "
+                        f"difficulty={mean[4]:.4f}"
+                        + (
+                            f" distillation={mean[5]:.4f}"
+                            if teacher_train_logits is not None
+                            else ""
+                        )
+                        + " "
+                        f"elapsed={time.perf_counter() - epoch_started:.1f}s",
+                        flush=True,
+                    )
+                if shutdown.signum is not None:
+                    pause_training(
+                        epoch,
+                        step + 1,
+                        permutation,
+                        running,
+                        time.perf_counter() - epoch_started,
+                    )
+
+            outputs = _evaluate(
+                mx, model, encoded_validation, eval_batch_size
+            )
+            metrics = multitask_metrics(outputs, validation_records)
+            if teacher_validation_logits is not None:
+                metrics["teacherAgreement"] = float(
+                    np.mean(
+                        outputs["purpose_logits"][validation_scorable].argmax(
+                            axis=-1
+                        )
+                        == teacher_validation_logits[validation_scorable].argmax(
+                            axis=-1
+                        )
+                    )
+                )
+            metrics["epoch"] = epoch
+            metrics["meanTrainingLoss"] = (running / steps_per_epoch).tolist()
+            history.append(metrics)
+            score = float(metrics["selectionScore"])
+            secondary_macro = (
+                metrics["secondary"]["supportedMacroRecall"]
+                if metrics["secondary"] is not None
+                else 0.0
+            )
+            print(
+                f"epoch {epoch}: primary_accuracy={metrics['primary']['accuracy']:.4%} "
+                f"hard_accuracy={metrics['primaryHardSlice']['accuracy']:.4%} "
+                f"secondary_supported_macro_recall={secondary_macro:.4%} "
+                f"mixed_f1={metrics['mixed']['f1']:.4%} "
+                f"difficulty_mae={metrics['difficulty']['mae']:.4f} "
+                f"selection_score={score:.4%}"
+                + (
+                    f" teacher_agreement={metrics['teacherAgreement']:.4%}"
+                    if "teacherAgreement" in metrics
+                    else ""
+                ),
+                flush=True,
+            )
+            improvement = score - best_score
+            if improvement > args.minimum_improvement:
+                best_score = score
+                best_metrics = metrics
+                epochs_without_improvement = 0
+                _save_checkpoint(
+                    mx, model, tokenizer, best_dir, checkpoint_config
+                )
+                write_json(
+                    output_dir / "training-state.json",
+                    {
+                        "bestEpoch": epoch,
+                        "bestSelectionScore": best_score,
+                        "elapsedSeconds": time.perf_counter() - started,
+                        "complete": False,
+                    },
+                )
+            else:
+                epochs_without_improvement += 1
+                if epochs_without_improvement >= args.early_stopping_patience:
+                    stopped_early = True
+                    print(
+                        f"early stopping after epoch {epoch}: no hard-aware "
+                        f"selection improvement greater than "
+                        f"{args.minimum_improvement:.4%} for "
+                        f"{args.early_stopping_patience} epoch(s)",
+                        flush=True,
+                    )
+                    break
+            resume_state = None
+            if shutdown.signum is not None:
+                pause_training(
+                    epoch + 1,
+                    1,
+                    None,
+                    np.zeros(6, dtype=np.float64),
+                    0.0,
+                )
+    finally:
+        shutdown.restore()
 
     # Release the optimizer graph before opening the selected checkpoint; base and
     # especially large should never hold two full optimizer states at calibration time.
@@ -734,7 +1074,12 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
         "variant": variant.name,
         "baseModel": variant.model_id,
         "baseModelRevision": variant.revision,
-        "resumedFrom": str(source) if args.resume_from is not None else None,
+        "resumedFrom": (
+            str(source)
+            if args.resume_from is not None or args.resume_training is not None
+            else None
+        ),
+        "exactTrainingResume": args.resume_training is not None,
         "parameterClass": variant.parameter_class,
         "trainingBackend": "mlx",
         "device": args.device,
@@ -800,6 +1145,12 @@ def train(args: argparse.Namespace) -> dict[str, Any]:
             "complete": True,
         },
     )
+    for stale_resume in (
+        output_dir / "resume",
+        output_dir / ".training-resume-backup",
+    ):
+        if stale_resume.exists():
+            shutil.rmtree(stale_resume)
     return metrics
 
 
@@ -820,6 +1171,14 @@ def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
             "the backbone and all four task heads with a fresh optimizer"
         ),
     )
+    source_group.add_argument(
+        "--resume-training",
+        type=Path,
+        help=(
+            "exact signal-created resume checkpoint; restores the saved arguments, "
+            "model, optimizer, shuffle order, and next batch"
+        ),
+    )
     parser.add_argument("--dataset-dir", type=Path, default=DEFAULT_DATASET_DIR)
     parser.add_argument("--output-dir", type=Path)
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -864,6 +1223,13 @@ def _positive(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser, name: str, value: Any) -> None:
 def main(argv: Sequence[str] | None = None) -> int:
     parser = build_parser()
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+    if args.resume_training is not None:
+        checkpoint = args.resume_training.expanduser().resolve()
+        try:
+            resume_state = _read_resume_state(checkpoint)
+            _restore_resume_arguments(args, checkpoint, resume_state)
+        except DataError as exc:
+            parser.error(str(exc))
     for name in (
         "epochs",
         "batch_size",
@@ -902,6 +1268,8 @@ def main(argv: Sequence[str] | None = None) -> int:
         )
     try:
         metrics = train(args)
+    except TrainingPaused as paused:
+        return 128 + paused.signum
     except (DataError, OSError, RuntimeError, ValueError) as exc:
         print(f"error: {exc}", file=sys.stderr)
         return 1