EXHIBIT 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned  directors and officers of NATIONAL  COMPUTER  SYSTEMS,
INC.  hereby  constitute  and  appoint  J.W.  Fenton,  Jr.,  his true and lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his 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 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION 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
4th day of January, 1992.

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


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


/s/ David P. Campbell                 /s/ John W. Vessey
    David P. Campbell                     John W. Vessey


                                      /s/ Robert F. Zicarelli
    William W. Chorske                    Robert F. Zicarelli


/s/ David C. Cox                      /s/ Norman A. Cocke
    David C. Cox                          Norman A. Cocke


/s/ Harvey Golub                      /s/ Jeffrey W. Taylor
    Harvey Golub                          Jeffrey W. Taylor



                                                                      EXHIBIT 24


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned director and officer of NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
hereby  constitutes  and  appoints  J.W.  Fenton,   Jr.,  his  true  and  lawful
attorney-in-fact and agent, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and
all capacities  (including  without  limitation,  as Director  and/or  Principal
Executive  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
EMPLOYEE  STOCK  OPTION  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 has hereunto set his hand this 18th
day of January, 1996.


                                                         /s/ Russell A. Gullotti
                                                         Russell A. Gullotti