SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 18, 1997.




                         NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Minnesota                       0-3713                  41-0850527
(State or other jurisdiction of       (Commission             (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)        File Number)          Identification No.)


11000 Prairie Lakes Drive, Eden Prairie, Minnesota                 55344
(Address of principal executive offices)                         (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:   (612) 829-3000


                                 Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)





Item 5.  Other Events

                  Board of Director  authorization for the repurchase of up to 1
million  shares of the  Company's  Common  Stock for the  purpose of  offsetting
shares  issued  in  connection  with  an  announced  acquisition,   as  well  as
stock-based employee plans and future acquisitions.

                  Reference  is made to the press  release  issued  by  National
Computer Systems,  Inc. on March 18, 1997, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 99.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated March 18, 1997


Signature

Pursuant to the  requirements  of Section 12 of the  Securities  Exchange Act of
1934,  the  registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


Dated: March 25, 1997

                                                NATIONAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, INC.





                                                By   /s/  J.W. Fenton, Jr.
                                                          J.W. Fenton, Jr.
                                                     Secretary and Treasurer






INDEX TO EXHIBITS


Exhibits

   99             Press Release, dated March 18, 1997