D.C. schools will be forced to lay off teachers and other staff under significantly slashed budgets that officials plan to release later this week, according to members of central office staff.

“These are going to be very severe cuts — we’re talking about positions, bodies,” said one D.C. Public Schools official who works closely with Interim Chancellor Kaya Henderson. “In the past we’ve tried to focus on central office, but this is school level as well.”