Peter Afflerbach (born October 28, 1956) is an American educator and researcher specializing in literacy, reading assessment, and reading comprehension. He is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he contributed to the study and teaching of reading strategies and individual differences in reading.
Peter Afflerbach was born on October 28, 1956, in Queens, New York City. He attended public schools in New York City and later earned his doctorate in reading from the University at Albany, SUNY, where he focused on reading comprehension strategies and assessment.
Before transitioning to academia, Afflerbach worked as a teacher in various roles, including as a Chapter 1 remedial reading teacher, a middle school reading and writing teacher, and a high school English teacher.
Afflerbach joined the faculty of the University of Maryland, College Park, where he served as a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership. His research interests include:
Afflerbach was a founding editor of the journal Metacognition and Learning and has published in both theoretical and practical journals.
Afflerbach's served on several National Academy of Education and National Academy of Sciences committees focused on literacy and assessment. He contributed to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), serving on its 2025 Reading Framework Development Committee and other related committees.
His works include:
Peter Afflerbach resides in San Francisco, California, following his retirement.