diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 5d69332..f793e88 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -166,10 +166,28 @@ def _absence_sort_key(ab: dict):
         return (0, 0)
 
 
+def _resolve_excused(ab: dict) -> bool | None:
+    """
+    Return True if excused, False if unexcused, None if unknown.
+    isExcused is a direct bool field on the absence object.
+    """
+    # Top-level isExcused is the authoritative field
+    if "isExcused" in ab:
+        val = ab["isExcused"]
+        if isinstance(val, bool):
+            return val
+    # Fall back to excuseStatus text
+    status_text = (ab.get("excuseStatus") or "").lower()
+    if "nicht" in status_text:
+        return False
+    if status_text:
+        return True
+    return None
+
+
 def _is_unexcused(ab: dict) -> bool:
-    excused = ab.get("isExcused") or ab.get("excused") or ab.get("excuse")
-    print(f"Debug: Absence {ab.get('id', '?')} excuse status: {excused}")
-    return excused
+    result = _resolve_excused(ab)
+    return result is False or result is None   # unknown treated as unexcused
 
 
 def filter_absences(absences: list[dict], unexcused_only: bool) -> list[dict]:
@@ -192,11 +210,10 @@ def _parse_dt(date_int, time_int) -> str:
 
 
 def _excuse_label(ab: dict) -> str:
-    excused = ab.get("isExcused") or ab.get("excused") or ab.get("excuse")
-    if excused is True or excused == 1:
+    result = _resolve_excused(ab)
+    if result is True:
         return "✓ Excused"
-    # if excused is False or excused == 0:
-    else:
+    if result is False:
         return "✗ Unexcused"
     return "? Unknown"