EXHIBIT 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                          1990 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

         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 a registration  statement,
and any and all amendments thereto, including post-effective amendments, on Form
S-8 relating to the issuance of Common Stock of National Computer Systems,  Inc.
pursuant to its National Computer Systems,  Inc. 1990 LONG-TERM  INCENTIVE PLAN,
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
6th day of March, 1995.


/s/ Charles W. Oswald                /s/ Stephen G. Shank
    Charles W. Oswald                    Stephen G. Shank


/s/Russell A. Gullotti               /s/ John E. Steuri
   Russell A. Gullotti                   John E. Steuri


/s/David P. Campbell                 /s/ Jeffrey E. Stiefler
   David P. Campbell                     Jeffrey E. Stiefler


/s/David C. Cox                      /s/ John W. Vessey
   David C. Cox                          John W. Vessey


/s/Jean B. Keffeler                  /s/ Jeffrey W. Taylor
   Jean B. Keffeler                      Jeffrey W. Taylor