EXHIBIT 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                    FORM 10-K FOR YEAR ENDED JANUARY 29, 2000

The undersigned directors and officers of NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC. hereby
constitute and appoint J. W. Fenton, Jr., their true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent,  for each of them and in their name,  place and stead, in any and all
capacities (including without limitation, as Director and/or principal Executive
Officer,  principal Financial Officer, principal Accounting Officer or any other
officer of the  Company),  to sign its  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended January 29, 2000,  which is to be filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  with all exhibits thereto,  and any and all documents in connection
therewith,  hereby granting unto said  attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform any and all acts and things  requisite and necessary
to be done, and hereby  ratifying and confirming all that said  attorney-in-fact
and agent may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the undersigned have hereunto set their hands this 7th day
of March, 2000.

 /s/ Russell A. Gullotti                        /s/  John J. Rando
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     Russell A. Gullotti                             John J. Rando

 /s/ William J. Cadogan                         /s/  Stephen G. Shank
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     William J. Cadogan                              Stephen G. Shank

/s/  David C. Cox                               /s/  John E. Steuri
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     David C. Cox                                    John E. Steuri

/s/  Delores M. Etter                           /s/  Jeffrey W. Taylor
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     Delores M. Etter                                Jeffrey W. Taylor

/s/  Jean B. Keffeler
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     Jean B. Keffeler