EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                       NCS/VUE EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

     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 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. NCS/ VUE 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  there with,  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 10th
day of April, 1997.

/s/   RUSSELL A. GULLOTTI                 /s/   STEPHEN G. SHANK
- ----------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
      Russell A. Gullotti                       Stephen G. Shank

/s/   DAVID C. COX                        /s/   JOHN E. STEURI
- ----------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
      David C. Cox                              John E. Steuri

/s/   MOSES JOSEPH                        /s/   JEFFREY E. STIEFLER
- ----------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
      Moses Joseph                              Jeffrey E. Stiefler

/s/   JEAN B. KEFFELER                     /s/  JOHN W. VESSEY
- ----------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
      Jean B. Keffeler                          John W. Vessey

/s/   Charles W. Oswald                     /s/ JEFFREY W. TAYLOR
- ----------------------------------------  -------------------------------------
      Charles W. Oswald                         Jeffrey W. Taylor