EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

                        1998 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE 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. 1998
EMPLOYEE  STOCK  PURCHASE  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 21st day of May, 1998.


/s/ Russell A Gullotti                       /s/ Stephen G. Shank
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    Russell A. Gullotti                          Stephen G. Shank

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

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

/s/ Moses S. Joseph
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    Moses S. Joseph