During the Great Recession, which spanned 2008 and 2009, budget crises caused states to cut back on public education spending and schools responded by reducing spending on personnel, curriculum, and extra-curricular activities. This research article uses a unique survey conducted during the recession to analyse public attitudes towards different forms of school spending cuts. Ordered logit estimates show that gender, age, income, party identification, and political ideology are major determinants of public attitudes towards school spending cuts. Knowing the socio-demographic, economic, and ideological preferences of citizens and taking these into account in managerial decision-making, especially during budget crises, can promote responsive, participatory, and accountable governance.